Racing: New chief stipe not one to take a backward step

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing will decide whether to take the Pentane issue further after interviewing trainer Lance O'Sullivan.

Chief stipendiary steward Cameron George said yesterday he hoped to speak to O'Sullivan in the next two days.

NZTR issued a press statement on Tuesday declaring it had requested a veterinary report from O'Sullivan's stable vet after press reports that Pentane had been inspected last Friday before failing badly in Saturday's $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes.

George arrived from Australia to take over on August 1, the position left vacant by retiring chief stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon, and is aware of comment that he has charged in with a big stick to make an impact.

Those comments almost certainly stemmed from the charges quickly laid against jockeys, one of the first and most notable being the eight riding days suspension Opie Bosson received for interference on the first day of the three-day Hastings spring carnival.

Bosson got two days back on appeal.

David Walsh has been charged with failing to give former Australian-trained mare Rationalize every chance when she finished 5.8 lengths last to Manten at Hastings on September 23 and an inquiry has been opened into the ride of Jim Collett on 10th placed Black Orlov at Hastings on Saturday.

George says he had no set agenda when he started.

"I copped criticism from day one, but I wasn't acting to make a point.

"You have to remember that every case made goes to the Judicial Control Authority, which makes the decisions.

"If a jockey makes a stronger case and wins, then fine.

"There have been just as many cases where jockeys have put their case to us when we've asked questions and we haven't put the issue forward to the JCA, we've issued warnings.

"I think New Zealand racing is very strong and very good, but that said, there are a couple of issues that we need to improve on.

"In my view we should always be reviewing policies to ensure they are appropriate. I am happy to justify how I conduct myself as a steward."

George is big on race interference.

"Safety is paramount in my mind.

"If we send 13 horses out for a race we should expect 13 horses to race incident-free.

"We expect riders to ride with no interference.

"Every owner should expect to see their horse race free of interference.

"I'll never walk away from the point where we ask the questions.

"We are charged with the responsibility of protecting the image of racing and to protect the betting public."

Until George started his new position 10 weeks ago he had spent his time in racing under the Australian system of the stewards panel being prosecutor, judge and jury.

There is no feeling that it's a scenario he'd prefer to work under.

"I think the New Zealand system works well.

"We lay the charges, the licence holders make their case and the JCA sits in judgment.

"I think it's a brilliant system."