I didn't hear any mention of race playing any role? Maybe I am mistaken and maybe Muzi has chosen the wrong platform to vent his frustration but still I fail to see what this has to do with the race card or settlers?
This sounds like a legitimate gripe about the rules of when a riding suspension should be served.
Agree with Muzi, he deserved to win the championship but didn't, you can hear the bloke is gutted and rightly so.
I had the 14 day suspension in the back of my mind the whole time, it was just a matter of time before Muzi opened his mouth. Got to question the rules of the NHRA in this instance a lot as it cost Muzi the championship.
Sylvester wrote: i am in the Muzi Corner. bottom line NHRA are not consistent and seem blind to major challenges that they could assist with to improve RACING in SA.
Congrats to Lyle he thouroughly deserves the title and i am sure he will set the international stage alight shortly.
Muzi will have o come back again and try for 2020 title.
Think Muzi will have to try in 2021.
Richard Fourie seems about ready to go for it in 2020.
If Fourie travels, it'll be a precession...
Richard Fourie is the greatest...
The following user(s) said Thank You: johnnycomelately
Muzi has every right to be aggrieved...a major injustice has been done to him. Imagine how you would feel if you had worked hard the entire year for something and then to have something like this happen to you!
The NHRA must definitely explain their decision here, otherwise the insinuation becomes the truth.
Although probabaly deserving, Lyle will also have consider himself very "fortunate" here.
Oh, and what exactly was Sheldon to say or do there? He had to brush it aside.
Muzi said “he thought this was a rainbow nation” what must you make of that? In his defense his right in saying why the rules differ for certain jockeys. Again was it the right place to do it in the owners Colours after the owners horse won and he doesn’t want to say anything else he could of at least thank his sponsor trainer and owner and then told NHRA and Sheldon to get knotted!
i think muzi was waiting for this opportunity to voice his opinion but to put Sheldon on the spot was not right i agree it was not the right forum but i agree with him the rules are not consistent for everyone.Rainbow nation wow cant say we have been that for years politics politics in this country.
So why wait to complain after Race 4 on the last day of the season? Surely this is something that should have been done earlier to allow the rules to be explained/ exercised and not after your attempt to push your competitor off his horse fails.
Herewith my opinions on the issue and some facts.
My Opinion
1)Muzi chose the wrong platform to vent his frustration. The Owner and Trainer of the horse never even got a mention. Nothing for the Punters, either with regard to the rest of his day's rides or the horse itself, that he had just ridden. That's what post race interviews are about.
2)Muzi continues to bring race into any and every issue when he is wrong. What has the "Rainbow Nation" got to do with it ?
3)Muzi has worked damn hard over the last few Seasons, earning a lot of respect in the process. Now he shows poor judgement and also poor Sportsmanship and in so doing, proceeds to lose the vast majority of that respect.
The Facts
1)Muzi obviously never let the truth or all the facts spoil his "poor me" story.
2)Lyle Hewitson appealed his suspension. NHRA did NOT just leave it or let him get away with it. The appeal is still in process.
3)Muzi never appealed his suspension. He was NOT DENIED the right to appeal. It was HIS DECISION not to appeal his suspension.
4)NHRA have nothing to do with Muzi deciding not to appeal and they cannot be blamed, as both jocks had the same rights and options.
5)The one question that will remain is why it has taken so long for Lyle's appeal to be heard. I do not know the facts . But what is a fact, is that both sides legal teams have to agree on a date for the appeal. It goes without saying that the defending team would be playing for time, at this critical part of the Season. That's obvious to everyone, especially to those of us who have appealed against NHRA in the past. Again, the same parameters exist for all.
As I see it overall, Muzi has a few enquiries pending himself, right now. These wont be heard today or tomorrow. Due process will apply. But, even after Saturday's debacle in race 2, have a look at race 1 yesterday. I see two jocks fighting for the title. One is composed, focussed and professional and the other is anything but that, resorting to any dirty tactic at any opportunity and is the one who ultimately cries foul...
One would never ever think of using the race card and the other continues to do just that, as he has done over the years.
And now Racing must again be badmouthed and the NHRA are at fault...
Remember when Anthony Delpech was on course to break Piere Strydom's record of number of wins in a Season ? He did the very same thing as Lyle has done and which Muzi could have done. In Anthony's case, there were a few suspensions that were appealed and delayed and then heard in the new Season. That's the system, equally available to all.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave Scott, Bob Brogan, Frodo, Craig Eudey, Paythepublic, Curlin, Karma
