Gai Waterhouse was fined $2000 by Racing New South Wales stewards for failing to report More Joyous was lame leading up to the running of the Group 1 $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 6.
Multiple Group 1 winning mare More Joyous at the centre of the Gai Waterhouse inquiry. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waterhouse pleaded not guilty to the charge of not reporting More Joyous’ conditions which is the second offence relating to More Joyous after the leading Randwick trainer was fined $5000 for a similar offence following the Group 1 $400,000 Yarraman Park All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 27.
The prominent trainer is appealing the $5000 fine.
The multiple Group 1 winning mare started a short priced $1.65 favourite but could only manage to finish fifth behind Appearance after being badly held up for a run in the straight.
Chairman of Stewards Ray Murrihy was tendered evidence during the inquiry that More Joyous was lame after galloping the week before and received treatment for a foot abscess leading up to the race.
The rules of racing require the trainer to inform stewards of any problem that might affect a runner prior to race day and Murrihy asked Waterhouse why she had not informed the stewards.
“Why would you want to hide that,” Murrrihy said.
“Weren’t you entitled to tell the stewards she was lame?”
“It’s not a matter for the public,” Waterhouse replied.
“More Joyous was lame for five out of the eight days leading up to a Group I event,” Murrihy said.
“It did, in our view, have its preparation interrupted. We’re satisfied the condition had the potential and may have affected the horse’s performance.”
Evidence at the hearing revealed that More Joyous had her shoe removed after pulling up lame after galloping the Saturday morning before the Queens Of The Turf, and while having her hoof treated, was keep fit with regular swimming sessions at the beach.
