Sheer Courage Disqualified

The following appeared in the Sporting Post

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that a 10 day-day Objection was lodged by the Senior Handicapper in terms of Rule 68.3.5 against the horse SHEER COURAGE (IRE) in that when the trainer, Mr P F Matchett both nominated and accepted to run SHEER COURAGE (IRE) for the meeting on 6 October 2011 at the Vaal Racecourse, he omitted this gelding’s previous racing record, thereby affecting the weight that SHEER COURAGE (IRE) should have carried in the race.

At the Objection hearing, held on Tuesday 18 October 2011, at Turffontein Racecourse, the Objection Board upheld the objection and in terms of Rule 69.6, SHEER COURAGE (IRE), (the winner), was disqualified from the race and the remainder of the horses were placed relative to the original placings.

Punters still fucked (td)

Did Matchett get fined?

Good outcome not sure anything could have been done at the time as far as bookies, punters and tote but would suggest the bookie that took the stable bets ? Could lay a charge?

If Paul Matchett never declared the horses previous form then how come was it that the horse carried 55kg's (same as 1 time winner Baron Of Breedon) surely if they were of the opinion that the horse was a 1st timer and therefore a maiden running in a Graduation then the weights would have been different..looks to me like a classic case of passing the buck..or am I missing something?

We have another thread running on this and as far as I gather via Molly that the input from the stable was that if it could repeat the work at home it should win but no mention that it won by the distance in the UK

Titch Wrote:

---

> If Paul Matchett never declared the horses
> previous form then how come was it that the horse
> carried 55kg's (same as 1 time winner Baron Of
> Breedon) surely if they were of the opinion that
> the horse was a 1st timer and therefore a maiden
> running in a Graduation then the weights would
> have been different..looks to me like a classic
> case of passing the buck..or am I missing
> something?


im also confused as it carried the weight of a one time winner and not of a maiden...

Now imho this is much more serious than the thread abt Fortune - did the trainer know or did'n't he - if he did then why did he neglect to mention it - more probable imo that he did not know - so then the question must be how could he be so ill-informed?

I agree with u frodo if u buy a horse u must know the background ?

So hypothetically I could bring in a 5 time winner from abroad slap it in a maiden fire it off the board and then pay a fine and have the horse disqualified???
Surely the authorities are not solely reliant on the connections to inform them of a horses history and if that is the case then it that needs to addressed with immediate effect

Passing the buck bigtime

If for some bizarre reason it was the duty of the trainer to advise the authorities of the horses record why should the owners be punished for something completely out of their hands ..added to the controversy is the fact that the horse carried 55kg's which is what a 1 time winner should carry in a graduation so did not have any unfair weight advantage in the race due to the cock up and won on merit.. passing the buck and fining the trainer is bad enough but to deprive the owners of a stake cheque for a race won on merit is totally unexceptable