Cup champ probe

Mon, June 28 2010

THOROUGHBRED Racing NT stewards have "expressed dissatisfaction" over Carl Spry's ride on 2009 Darwin Cup champion Activation in Saturday's ROANT Cup at Fannie Bay.

Activation finished sixth, some five lengths from the winner Palmyra Boy, under a 63kg impost in the first leg of the two ROANT Cups.

TRNT chairman of stewards Lindsay Lane told the Northern Territory News that an inquiry had been opened into Spry's ride.

"We have opened an inquiry and expressed our dissatisfaction with Mr Spry's ride on Activation," Lane said. "We questioned Mr Spry briefly, but would like to talk further to him and also talk to trainer Mr Hickmott, who left the course before we were able to question him.

"The decision was made to adjourn the inquiry at a date to be fixed, so we can interview both Mr Spry and Mr Hickmott."

Activation's trainer Michael Hickmott said he was unaware of any interest from the stewards when contacted yesterday.

"Personally I haven't been made aware of any problem at this stage," Hickmott said.

"I appreciate the fact the TRNT stewards have a job to do and are obliged to ask questions to uphold the integrity of racing.

"I'm more than happy to answer questions on any of my runners from Saturday or any other previous meetings."

On face value, it is strange why Activation's run attracted the stewards attention, considering his first-up record. Before Saturday, Activation had failed to win any of his 10 first-up appearances, with the most recent coming when 16th of 16 in the Prime Minister's Cup (1300m) on the Gold Coast in May 2009.

Even the three first-up runs before that didn't set the world on fire - an 11 of 14 at Caulfield (July 2008), 12/12 at Caulfield (September 2007) and 10/11 at Caulfield (March 2007).

Activation's shortest winning trip so far in his career has been 1400m, and that came in his three-year-old days back in 2005.

Coincidentally, Spry enjoyed his most successful day in the Top End, riding a winning treble, including two winners for Hickmott.

It is the second time in as many years a previous Darwin Cup winner's performance in the ROANT Cup has attracted the attention of stewards.

In 2009, trainer Dick Leech and jockey Jesse Riley were brought in after Club Liquid had finished eighth in the race won by He's Here.

Story Courtesy Gregor Mactaggart - NT News