Golden Flare's co-owner Cedric Foote was a bit pre-occupied at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Twenty four hours before the steeplechaser's historic McGregor Grant win, Foote's son Ben, a trainer and jumps jockey, was disqualified for 12 months for claiming he trained a horse which he did not.
"Yes, it has been weighing on my mind," admitted Cedric Foote immediately after Golden Flare's win.
The chief racecourse inspector for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, John McKenzie, said yesterday that Ben Foote had been disqualified for claiming he trained a horse which he did not. The horse was The Governess, who was entered for a Cambridge meeting on April 26.
The horse's Waikato owner, Barry Grant, was disqualified for four months and fined $1500 and ordered to pay costs of $1000.
Foote is also required to pay $1000 in costs.
"They set out on a course of collusion to promote Foote as the trainer when he never had anything to do with the horse's training," said McKenzie.
"When people read the racebook ... they are entitled to believe what is recorded."
McKenzie said the repercussions of such an arrangement could not be tolerated.
The disqualification begins after June 30, so Foote can make arrangements for the horses he trains.
Foote turned his hand to training after enjoying success as a jumps rider.
Last year he rode Cool Conductor, who ran second to Golden Flare in the Great Northern.
* * *
Jack Da Beer provided Takanini trainer Jenny Vance with a fortuitous win when he landed a decent punt at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Until 10 days ago, Jack Da Beer had been prepared by Adrian Burns, who has given training away.
Burns has done an admirable job with a small team in recent years but says, like many with a small operation, he has been finding it tough in the past year.
The Jack Da Beer win provided apprentice Patrick Holmes with his 50th winner.
Holmes had been successful on debut 2-year-old winner Grovali for his bosses Trevor and Stephen McKee.
The Grosvenor colt looked a classy stayer in the making when he finished powerfully from the pack to outfinish another debut youngster, Kauri King. "He should have a good 3-year-old season," said Trevor McKee.
- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA
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