An investigation has been launched into Tasmania’s premier thoroughbred race following the discovery that Sunday’s Hobart Cup had been run almost 40 metres short of the advertised distance.
In a notice to industry, TasRacing confirmed the starting position barriers for the $250,000 cup were not placed within the intended position within the starting chute.
The error resulted in the 2,400-metre race being run 37m shorter than advertised, prompting an inquiry by TasRacing and a referral to the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner.
The race was won by $31 chance Blonde Star, from Ciaron Maher-trained favourite Ziryab and Peter Luttrell’s Hobart-trained Distrustful Award.
Only 0.02 lengths separated Blonde Star from Ziryab, and just 0.22 lengths separated Blonde Star from Distrustful Award, which won last year’s Launceston Cup.
TasRacing says the race had been conducted “marginally short” of the stated 2,400-metre distance. (ABC News: Tony King)
TasRacing said that “no objections were lodged following the running of the Hobart Cup” and that correct weight was also declared, meaning the result of the race would stand.
But eyebrows were raised on course when Blonde Star passed the post first, on its way to setting a new Elwick track record over 2,400m.
The trainer of Distrustful Award, Peter Luttrell, said it was “hard to believe” a track record had been set, given the wet conditions and the track’s rating of a soft five.
“I was in the truck on the way home and I was thinking, ‘How did they run a track record on a track like that?'” he said.
“Because I had two [runners] in race three and they come back covered in mud and slurry and all the rest of it with the rain we had earlier in the day.”
‘Surely to Christ they’d have it right’
Luttrell said the blunder had cost his horse the cup.
“If it had been run at the true distance, my horse would have finished the race off the best of all of them and the result would have been a lot different,” he said.
“There’s a lot of difference between first prize money and third prize money, but more than the money, it’s the prestige of winning your hometown cup.
“Surely to Christ they’d have it right. Biggest race of the day, it’s their big day out, and it’s been spoilt by this controversy.”Possible legal action flagged
Distrustful Award won the Launceston Cup last year and had been set for a run at the Hobart Cup this year.
There is a $100,000 bonus on offer for trainers who win the two cups in the same year, an achievement that Luttrell believed was a distinct possibility.
“I put 12 months’ work into that horse to have him spot on for Sunday, and to have that happen on Sunday is just so disappointing,” he said.
“The jockey [Chloe Wells] rode him a treat and gave him every chance in my eyes, and it’s no fault of ours we got beat.”
The Hobart-based trainer said he was now exploring his legal options.
“Can we sue TasRacing for the difference in the prize money? I don’t know. But I’m not going to just say it’s over and done with and leave it at that.
“I’m going to see if there’s any recourse. I’m just really disappointed with the whole scenario.”
In its industry notice, TasRacing said the race had been conducted “marginally short” of the stated 2,400-metre distance.
It said it would provide a further statement in due course, including “details of steps it will implement to ensure the error does not occur again”.