Rodder wins appeal
Jockey Talia Rodder has won her appeal against a six week suspension imposed on her by Racing Victoria.
Talia Rodder with Australian champion Takeover Target
The 28-year-old Israeli-born apprentice was represented at the Racing Victoria hearing by David Grace QC.
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board has issued the following statement:
At Moonee Valley on Saturday, 19 November 2011 (and at an adjourned hearing on Thursday, 24 November 2011) apprentice jockey Talia Rodder was found guilty of a charge under the provisions of AR 135(b) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure her mount had full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.
The charge relating to her ride on Serene Tanie in Race 3 the Corporate Interiors Australia Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, 19 November 2011.
The particulars of the charge being that after having asked her mount to do significant work in the early stages to take up a forward position, that between the 1100 metres and the 800 metres, Ms Rodder failed to make sufficient effort to restrain her mount during that point of the race. Also from the 800 metres, Ms Rodder then allowed her mount to stride forward and passing the 600 metres, Ms Rodder placed her mount under further pressure by riding it along.
Talia Rodder had her licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight on Monday, 28 November 2011 and to expire at midnight on Monday, 9 January 2012 – a period of 6 weeks.
A Notice of Appeal against the decision and severity of the penalty was lodged on Friday, 25 November 2011. A stay of proceedings was granted effective until midnight on Wednesday, 29 November 2011.
DECISION: Appeal allowed.
Rodder told media that the Victorian Jockeys Association had backed her and that she was relieved to be cleared saying that she did not nothing wrong “except misjudging the pace”.
A VJA director said that Rodder had made an error of judgement as an apprentice and that there was no intentional wrongdoing.
