Despite being charged with not riding out his mount in the Kingston Town Classic, the trainer of Scales of Justice has revealed he has no problem with under-fire jockey Douglas Whyte.
The charge comes after Whyte rode Scales of Justice to a loss by a nose to Stratum Star only for officials to review his actions on Hawk-Eye, with the evidence suggesting he did not ride out his mount on the final two strides.
However, trainer Lindsay Smith said he has no issue with the jockey and believes Whyte doesn’t have a case to answer.
“After the post I thought, and my belief is, that Douglas give it his last push,” Smith said on Radio Sport National on Monday morning. “I think he thought that the horse had had him on the outside.
“Without disrespecting the winner, I think my horse had more desire than the winner, I think the winner could have hit the line a little better to be honest.
Smith added that Whyte would be the better person to speak to about the charge.
“If he’s misjudged it, it’s for him to answer. I didn’t speak to Douglas about that afterwards, he just said the horse gave him everything.”
Smith also said that he was unaware of the charge initially as he had already left to take Scales of Justice home.
Much of the stewards’ evidence was taken from the Hawk-Eye replay, which neither Smith nor Scales of Justice’s owners had the opportunity to review.
“The first I heard about it was when my wife and kids waited at the races to say goodbye and I was in the truck on the way home and she rang to say there’s a bit of a problem, he’s still in the room,” Smith said.
“The stewards have their job to do. I don’t think the horse could have won whatever, the horse was gone and I thought the horse on the outside should have won a bit easier.
“The horse had no more to give, if Douglas misjudged it he’ll answer that question. I didn’t think anything of it on the day and I can’t believe it’s been blown out this way. They’re trying to lynch the bloke.”
The 1800m contest was the first time Scales of Justice had raced more than 1600m, although did Whyte ride the four-year-old to victory at the Group 1 Railway Stakes on November 19.
The four-year-old gained 5.5kgs to compete in the Kingston Town Classic and pulled up with a lame hind leg following the race.
However, Smith said he remained happy with Whyte’s ride.
“My main concern is the horse and I am happy with the way that man rode the horse both times. I believe it and the owner believes in what the man has done.”
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