Source : the age
Racing Victoria stewards have cleared all jockeys of blame for a fall that caused a horse death in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday, as trainer Chris Waller revealed his staff were taking it “one day at a time” to cope with the loss of stable star Ohope Wins.
Stewards released a report on Tuesday morning, saying they “could not attribute the incident to the careless actions of any one particular rider”.
They interviewed five jockeys – Rachel King, Jabez Johnstone, Ethan Brown, Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil – in the hours before releasing their finding.
Stewards have now closed their investigation, referring the incident to Racing Victoria’s veterinary services department, which does not release public findings.
Saturday’s carnage unfolded 300 metres from the Caulfield Racecourse finish post in front of a packed public section.
Waller’s dual group 1-winning Ohope Wins and jockey McNeil were brought crashing to the ground after last year’s winner Half Yours (Zahra) stumbled and fell in front of them.
While Half Yours emerged with minor lacerations and both jockeys escaped serious injury, this year’s Australian Oaks winner suffered catastrophic injuries and had to be put down behind a green screen.
The full details of the horse’s fatal injuries have not yet been released by Racing Victoria.
The two-horse tumble followed a bumping duel between King’s mount Green Spaces and the Johnstone-ridden Kings Valley on the home turn.
Half Yours was then tightened for room between Kings Valley and Zahrann (Brown).
“Stewards are of the view that the marginal shifts from both Green Spaces, when under pressure, and Kings Valley resulted in both those runners becoming unbalanced and shifting in ultimately resulting in Half Yours being tightened and falling,” their report said.
“Further, stewards were satisfied Zahrann and Half Yours had both established a clear run prior to Half Yours meeting with interference.”
They found King and Johnstone had taken “the necessary corrective measures to straighten and relieve any pressure caused by their mounts to Half Yours”.
“Furthermore, Ethan Brown rider of Zahrann had not contributed to Half Yours being tightened for room,” their report said.
Stewards reported that there had been no issue with Caulfield track surface.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said Half Yours had been treated for lacerations and would be sent for a spell, ruling him out of a Melbourne Cup title defence.
Speaking for the first time about the tragic aftermath of the mid-race fall, Waller said on Tuesday it was never easy for staff to deal with the loss of a galloper.
“They’re pretty resilient, the people that look after these horses, they obviously love them dearly, and they’re pets, just like a cat or dog,” a visibly upset Waller said at Flemington on Tuesday morning.
“So, yeah, it’s always tough when there’s a missing [horse] in the stable.”
Waller watched the race tragedy from Randwick, having stayed in Sydney for The Everest meeting.
“I’ve spoken to Jye,” Waller said. “He’s improving with each day, and it’s great to see him out of hospital. He’s come out of it pretty well.”
McNeil was booked to ride Waller’s Valiant King in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup, but the trainer has opted to scratch the horse and run him at Flemington in the MV Gold Cup on Saturday.
Despite the severity of the fall, both McNeil and Zahra were not deemed to have concussion – a scenario that would have seen them stood down for 12 days under Racing Victoria protocols.
But Zahra was to meet with doctors again today before making a decision on his return.
Waller was in Melbourne on Tuesday to watch his Cox Plate runners, Aeliana and Birdman, have an early morning hit out at Flemington. The Cox Plate barrier draw will be held Tuesday night.
The trainer acknowledged the support of the Melbourne Racing Club, which runs Caulfield Racecourse, following Saturday’s accident.
“I commend them for offering counselling, and they’ve been fantastic because it’s good that people really understand how much people love horses and how much goes into a horse,” Waller said.
“No risks are ever taken, and the first choice is to bring them home safe, regardless of where they finish. But the staff, they’re coping well.
“You just take it one day at a time, just deal with it as each day comes.”
Waller has won six of the past 10 Cox Plates, including four with the record-breaking Winx between 2015-2018 and the past two with the Yulong-owned import Via Sistina.
That mare caused the sensation of the spring in 2024 when she dislodged jockey James McDonald during a Breakfast With The Best gallop at Moonee Valley and bolted away with a loose bandage hanging from her hind leg, and running three laps before being caught.
While many feared the champion mare would be unable to take her place in the weight-for-age championship after the scare, she came out and won by eight lengths in record time (2:01.07).
Waller said Aeliana and Birdman were set to peak in Saturday’s Cox Plate, being run at Flemington for the first time while Moonee Valley is closed for $250 million renovations.
“Both horses are in great form,” he said. “They’re genuine group 1 horses. Aeliana’s ready to peak after a good semi-final run last start (third in the Turnbull Stakes), and Birdman the same (third in the Might And Power Stakes).”
McDonald, who has won the past four Cox Plates, flew in from Sydney to trial Aeliana, while Ben Melham rode Birdman.
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