'The failure of the Tipperary stewards to conduct an inquiry appeared to represent a bizarre abdication of responsibility' HORSEMEN PASSING BY.

Byline: Alan Sweetman

MAGNA CUM LAUDE, three little Latin words that mean something in the academic world. They are indicative of great distinction on the part of a graduate. Ironic, then, that a horse named Magna Cum Laude was involved in an incident at Tipperary last Thursday that reflected little credit on Irish racing.

Two distinct issues arise from the race in which Magna Cum Laude, handled with extreme consideration by Seamie Heffernan, lost out by a neck to his Ballydoyle-trained stablemate Achill Island, ridden with sharply contrasting aggression by Kieren Fallon. The first issue is relatively complex, involving the reasons why Heffernan did not exercise a greater degree of urgency. The second, regarding the failure of the Tipperary stewards to conduct an inquiry, is more straightforward. It appeared to represent a bizarre abdication of responsibility.

Like many viewers, I was left bewildered by the closing stages of the race. I was reminded of another Latin phrase, videre est credere. Seeing is believing.

Clearly, Heffernan was aware that something unusual had happened, as he wasted no time in making himself available to the stewards. He reported that his mount had "travelled well throughout the race but did not find a lot when asked for his effort and was outstayed by his rival close home".

Heffernan's decision to provide the stewards with this summary implies that he felt the need to explain himself. At that stage he may well have thought that he ought to have done things differently. Or perhaps he simply realised that the finish looked bad, and could be open to misinterpretation by people not privy to the particular characteristics of his mount. Either way, it seems reasonable to assume that Heffernan reckoned that his pre-emptive remarks would form the basis of his defence at the inevitable stewards' inquiry.

As nothing of that nature transpired, there are gaps to be filled in the narrative.

Heffernan's suggestion that Magna Cum Laude did not stay has the merit of being consistent with the horse's run in a 7f event at Naas. Partnered then by Fran Berry, he hit the front a furlong out but was overtaken by three horses inside the last 100 yards or so, prompting my colleague Justin O'Hanlon to observe in his post-race analysis, "you can expect to see him come back down in trip after this".

On the basis that the Danehill Dancer colt is a brother to Joyce, who raced for Aidan O'Brien as a two-year-old in 2004, this would have been logical, as Joyce recorded his only win first time out in a 5f race at Tipperary. However, O'Brien was clearly prepared to give him another chance to prove his stamina, trying him over 7f and an additional 100 yards in last Thursday's race. He may have reasoned that it was worth a shot, Tipperary being a less demanding track than Naas and with the ground riding on the quick side, in contrast to Naas, where it had been soft.

This was the sort of evidence that the Tipperary stewards might have been expected to elucidate when considering the running and riding of Magna Cum Laude. Perhaps they did so privately, and were satisfied that there was no case to answer. Still, at the very least, one would have thought that they would go through the formalities as an exercise in public relations.

Any number of questions could have been asked of Heffernan, such as: are you happy that you rode the horse to the best of your ability? Are you aware that your riding failed to convey any impression of significant pressure being applied? Do you regularly ride this horse in its homework, and if so was the way in which you rode him based on a belief that he would resent the use of the whip? What precisely were your riding instructions, and did your instructions specifically preclude the use of the whip?

Did you approach the race with any definite thoughts about the relative merits of your own mount and Achill Island, and if so did that have any influence on your tactical decision-making?

SUCH questions, and a similar line of inquiry with the trainer or his accredited representative, would have teased out an acceptable explanation for Heffernan's ride.

O'Brien has often stressed that Heffernan knows the Ballydoyle horses inside out, and that he is valued as much for his insights from homework on the gallops as for his significant race-riding accomplishments. It seems highly likely that the jockey's restraint was based on a conviction that Magna Cum Laude would do absolutely nothing off the bridle, that he would not take kindly to being hit, and that even the gentlest of pressure would make him throw in the towel.

Having watched numerous re-runs of the race, and considered Magna Cum Laude's previous form, his possible trip preference, and probable issues of temperament, I would gladly give Heffernan the benefit of the doubt.

I still maintain that he should have ridden more forcibly, if for no other reason than to protect himself from public criticism, and I believe that some cautionary action by the stewards would have been appropriate in order to protect the public image of racing. Yet another Latin phrase comes to mind. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guardians?

Norman Invader illustrates Condon's growing talent

THE result of Sunday's Go And Go Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh provides welcome evidence that this year's Irish two-year-old talent is not simply confined to the top yards. The first two placings in the Group 3 event were taken by runners representing up-and-coming trainers Ken Condon and Andy Oliver.

Condon's Norman Invader was opening his account at the fifth attempt. It was a brave decision to take on a field that included the Gimcrack runner-up with a maiden, but the US-bred colt had shown plenty of ability in picking up place money in races won by two of the most talented two-year-olds on the Irish scene, New Approach and Bruges.

It is becoming readily apparent that Condon, who trains on the Curragh, places his horses to good effect, a trait illustrated by a victory for the Choisir filly Porto Marmay in a Listed race at Tipperary in July, and confirmed at a more modest level of competition by his astute handling of Khatiman, a five-year-old who completed a hat-trick of Flat wins when taking a claimer at Roscommon on Monday.

Based away from the mainstream at Caledon in County Tyrone, Oliver is not afraid to travel south to take on the top stables. His 25-1 runner-up on Sunday, Perfect Polly, had won a maiden first time out at the same venue only eight days previously, and can be rated a very useful prospect.

Form involving Perfect Polly got a boost when Rock Of Rochelle won Sunday's finale. This 24-runner 6f maiden should turn up its share of winners, and one who caught the eye was Toberanthawn, a Condon-trained newcomer who ran on to take sixth place.

The most obvious notebook horse from the race was the David Wachman-trained Storm Cat colt Great War Eagle, who met trouble in running and finished strongly for third after being extricated by Wayne Lordan. Slam Dunk, from the Ger Lyons stable, and the Dermot Weld-trained Shining Armour are others who should progress.

Stewards rub salt into wounds of sprint chaos

OFFICIALDOM had a bad day at Down Royal on Friday, when the two 5f handicaps on the card had to be started by tape because of trouble with the stalls. The first of the two races turned into a bad joke, with two-thirds of the 12-strong field in effect losing their chance in a desperately ragged start. The four who got off to a good start duly dominated the race, and took the first four placings.

Senior jockeys Pat Shanahan and Willie Supple, among the worst sufferers when their mounts were hampered at the start, had salt rubbed into their wounds after the running of the second 5f event on the card. This was a race in which there were no obvious hard-luck stories, but the stewards decided to exercise some muscle and cautioned all but one of the riders involved, Shanahan and Supple among them, for anticipating the start. A peculiar case of double standards.

CAPTION(S):

CAROLINE NORRIS Magna Cum Laude (near side) goes under to stablemate Achill Island in a controversial finish at Tipperary