Dramatic Finish at Otaki as Horse Unseats Jockey
In a truly extraordinary turn of events, a horse destined for certain victory dramatically unseated his jockey just yards from the winning post at Otaki racecourse in New Zealand. The incident occurred during the running of the Group 3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes on Sunday, leaving spectators and commentators in a state of shock.
Carnage on the Line
Road To Paris, the race favourite, was leading the field and seemingly on course for a significant success. However, the three-year-old gelding suddenly jinked sharply to his right on the approach to the line, unceremoniously dumping jockey Masa Hashizume. The rider skidded across the turf in a heart-stopping moment.
The chaos did not end there. Road To Paris, now riderless, badly hampered the horse directly behind him, Ammirati, who was completely knocked off his stride under jockey Matt Cartwright. With Tulsa King and Landman charging home, a three-way battle for the line ensued, leaving the outcome uncertain.
The race commentator captured the disbelief, exclaiming, "Oh my goodness he has dropped the rider! Carnage on the line, drama here and I don't know who has won it!"
A Surprise Winner Emerges
After the dust settled, it was confirmed that despite the severe interference, Ammirati had clung on to win the race, which carried a prize purse of £66,000. The offspring of Circus Maximus thus became the third Wellington Stakes winner for trainer Stephen Marsh, racing in the JML Bloodstock silks.
Dylan Johnson, the stable's representative, reflected on the bizarre victory via NZ Racing News, stating, "It’s a funny old game. It was a good performance from the horse... It’s an unusual way to win the race, but it’ll go in the book."
Stewards' Inquiry and Aftermath
The dramatic conclusion prompted a stewards' inquiry after the connections of Tulsa King requested the placings be reversed. However, the officials ultimately decided that the result would stand, confirming Ammirati as the legitimate winner.
In a positive conclusion to the scary incident, jockey Masa Hashizume was passed fit to ride again after being checked by medics. It was also reported that Road To Paris emerged from the event completely unscathed.
