KEY POINTS:
High-profile jockey Darryl Bradley is likely to face racing industry "integrity" charges after allegedly attempting to gain a payment for ensuring a rival horse lost a race.
Fritzy Boy was poised to pick up a $100,000 triple crown bonus for winning the $55,000 Southland Guineas at Invercargill tomorrow, having easily won the first two legs. Bradley, rider of tomorrow's second favourite Eel Win, approached the brokers for the underwriters of the bonus asking what it was worth to get Fritzy Boy beaten.
It is understood he left a message on the phone of an executive of the brokers, Dunedin-based Fraser, McAndrew and Ryan.
Concerned with the integrity of what was being suggested, the executive contacted New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
The irony is that the $100,000 was scrapped soon after Bradley made the call because only nine horses accepted on Wednesday to run in the Southland Guineas - the conditions of the bonus stipulated a minimum of 10 runners for the payout.
New Zealand's chief stipendiary steward, Cameron George, is understood to have interviewed Bradley - New Zealand's champion jockey in 1999 - during the trackwork session at Awapuni racecourse on Wednesday.
Mr George yesterday refused to comment on the issue and executives at Fraser, McAndrew and Ryan have been advised not to say anything.
Bradley was also not available.
Because of the vast financial implications of horse racing, integrity issues are treated very seriously.
The problems NZ Thoroughbred Racing have with Bradley's call are:
* If Eel Win can beat Fritzy Boy on natural ability, Bradley is obligated under the Rules of Racing to do just that, so why would the insurers of the $100,000 bonus be interested in paying the jockey?
* Fritzy Boy beat Eel Win easily in the first two legs of the treble, the Gore Guineas and Dunedin Guineas.
* If Bradley thought Eel Win could beat the hot $1.40 favourite, how then does he go about winning the race?
* The phone call leaves it open to interpretation how he was going to beat Fritzy Boy.
* It brings into play the possibility of payment of jockeys and foul play, even though it is understood neither was mentioned in the phone message.
* Bradley was seen to be soliciting more money to win a race than he is entitled to under the rules.
The charges likely to be laid against Bradley next week will centre on his allegedly acting in a way that is detrimental to the interests of racing.
There are a range of those in the Rules of Racing and they carry heavy penalties.
Eel Win's trainer, Christchurch's Michael Pitman, said: "He [Bradley] thought he could win, he was just trying to do some business. It might have been cheeky, but it's not corrupt.
"I believe the people that have been ringing around trying to get more horses into the race so the bonus could be paid are more corrupt than Darryl."
