FACTS

Willie Pearson is back under investigation for his ride on Cezanne yesterday.

The owner rang stewards after the race and complained about the ride.

They examined betting slips from the trainer.

When quizzed, Pearson said that he had no instruction to go easy on the horse, and although he is better over more ground and was first up, the trainer expected him to win.

MY VIEW

Stewards cannot let owners ring up and complain like this, otherwise they are going to be inundated with digruntled owner/punters. It should be up to the trainer or the stewards to lodge an enquiry / or protest.
Why then, can't I ring up a steward because I've punted on a horse after a bad ride???

The riding of Cezanne was very strange indeed.

There is no question over the ride up to the home straight, but after the stretch out for the run home, the riding action is "different" to say the least.

On viewing the footage several times, Pearson looks to have trouble gaining a run, so must keep shifting to the fence. It is his whip action and riding style which are "different".

He does not "punch out" the horse at any stage of the race, almost like a horse running a distant 8th. He uses the whip in his left hand (but that is probably because he wanted the horse to shift to the inside), and hits the horse every fourth stride???

To me it does not look like he deliberately did something wrong, it looked like he forgot the chances of the horse, or underestimated the horse. I think he should be cautioned over his riding style, but if he gets outed for this, it will be wrong.

CONCLUSION

Surely if a jockey has a preconception about a horse it affects his riding style and vigour. I wonder how many times jockeys mount horses, knowing that the owners and trainers are far too optimistic, and ride according to their own conclusions. Jockeys are human too.

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