O'Brien & Lordan punished by non-trier rule Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan were the latest partnership to fall foul of the new 'non-trier rule' after the running of newcomer Music Box at Dundalk tonight. The debutante finished strongly in the Dundalk Stadium Light Up Your Night Maiden, after meeting some trouble in running, just being denied for second at the line. Ballydoyle stable-mate Asking won the race. Lordan & O'Brien were found to be in breach of Rule 212 by the stewards. The jockey was banned for five race days. O'Brien received a fine of €2,000 while Music Box was suspended for 42 days. The following is the official Turf Club report:- 057B Dundalk Stadium Light Up Your Night M'dn The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Music Box, ridden by W.M. Lordan, and trained by A.P.O'Brien. Evidence was heard from the trainer's authorised representative and the rider concerned. Patrick Keating, authorised representative of A.P. O'Brien, stated that the rider was instructed to get the filly to relax from the start,to let her find her own way home and to do his best. He added that the filly was loaded into stalls early as she is odd and furthermore that W.M. Lordan was familiar with her as he rides her out at home. He described the run from the start as being of the opinion that the filly relaxed and behaved very well and had learnt a good bit tonight. He expressed his satisfaction with the ride and furthermore was delighted with the animals run. He confirmed that the filly was very healthy and the finding of kickback post race was not an unusual finding at this racecourse. W.M. Lordan, rider, confirmed the instructions. He explained that the main purpose of this race was to get the filly to relax as she is raw and has never been off the bridle at home and today he was educating her. In running he stated that she had loaded into stalls first, got upset after a while but settled when attended to. In running she jumped out slowly and he rode her in the middle of the runners to teach her. He added that he had tracked his stabled companion ridden by D O'Brien and had squeezed his mount along before the turn into the straight. He continued by stating that on entering the straight he asked his mount to go forward but switched outwards when he felt D O'Brien's mount edge slightly inwards and elected to follow D. McDonogh whose mount was going best. It was put to W.M. Lordan that there was plenty of room to challenge along the rails but while accepting that fact, he stated that he felt that his mount might react to having only a running rail on her inside and therefore was satisfied to move outwards to challenge between horses. He added that the filly was straight enough in her fitness but was having her first run as against all the other runners that had past experience. In his opinion the filly was doing her best work at the finish and that she had run a nice race under a nice educational ride from which she shoud improve. He expressed his delight with the run. He confirmed that he had nothing to report post race. The Stewards also received a report from the Turf Club Veterinary Officer who stated that Music Box had given a couple of coughs and had a slight nasal discharge possibly as a result of kickback during the race. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that A.P. O'Brien and W.M. Lordan were in breach of Rule 212 (A) (ii) & (iii). Through Patrick Keating, Authorised representative, they fined A.P. O'Brien €2,000 and suspended Music Box for 42 days. Furthermore the Stewards suspended W.M. Lordan for 5 racedays and ordered that he forfeit his riding fee. Rule 212 (A) (ii) & (iii) state:- (ii) Any rider or other person who either rides a horse in a race or causes, contributes to or permits the running and/or riding of a horse in a race in such a way that the horse cannot be seen to have been the subject of a genuine attempt to obtain from the horse timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible place shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-rule. (iii) Any person involved in the running of a horse in a race where the horse concerned, following examination by the Turf Club Veterinary Officer, is found to be in a condition which the person concerned knew or should have known would preclude its chance of winning or achieving its best possible placing having regard to its ability or any person involved in the running/or riding of a horse in a race for the purpose of giving the horse concerned a school shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-rule.
