Jockey Chris Munce doesn’t have to read the tea-leaves this time. Queensland Racing has spelt it out for him.
The spin from the Munce camp is that the rider decided to withdraw his application for a licence to ride in Queensland to concentrate on re-establishing in Sydney racing.
Munce is reported as saying he thinks he should ‘stay in Sydney for the time being’ in order to further ‘build momentum’ after his positive return to competitive riding at the weekend.
Withdrawing his application for a licence to ride in Queensland was Munce’s prerogative – but it was hardly a choice in the real sense of the word.
A media release by Queensland Racing left no doubt about how it views Munce’s presence on the local scene.
The release of Tuesday, December 16 reads:
‘QRL Chairman Mr Bob Bentley has stated it is necessary to put on public record QRL’s ongoing position should a further application be received.
Applicants for visiting jockey licences in Queensland are required by the rules of racing and licensing procedures to satisfy several conditions. In particular, an applicant must be free of any penalty from a racing authority in Australia or overseas.
QRL received the full details of the circumstances surrounding Chris Munce’s disqualification on December 5, 2008.
On December 5, 2008, QRL received an application from Mr Chris Munce for a Visiting Jockey Licence.
The QRL’s Licensing Committee was to consider the application at its meeting scheduled for 8:45am Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
At 4.45pm Monday, December 15 2008, Mr Munce phoned QRL to announce that he did not want to continue with his application.
Mr Munce is currently the subject of a disqualification imposed by the racing stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club on December 1, 2008.
Mr Munce, after pleading guilty for breaching Hong Kong (HK) Racing Rules 150 and 151(9) was disqualified for a period of thirty months backdated until March 2007.
This means that he is not free of disqualification in Hong Kong until September 1, 2009.
Mr Bentley said Mr Munce was advised of his rights of appeal against the decisions of the Hong Kong Racing stewards. “When he did not appeal, he gave away the right to dispute the Hong Kong disqualification,” said Mr Bentley.
“We operate in an era where the future prosperity of the industry largely depends on international competition and global wagering. This requires cooperation with all racing jurisdictions and consistent application of racing rules,” said Mr Bentley.
Under that explicit ruling, Munce’s application for a licence to ride in Queensland would have been denied, which would have further embarrassed Racing NSW, who granted the rider a licence contrary to the generally accepted international practice, where racing authorities around the world abide by disqualifications imposed in other jurisdictions.
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5 comments:
Bentley is a self seeking, publicity grasping fool.
Munce withdrew his application for a licence. Therefore, QRL did not need to say or do anything about him, at least until he applies for a licence again.
But Bob couldn't help himself. He had to come out and say that QRL would deny Munce a licence if he applied for one whilst the HK disqualification remains in place.
In so doing, he has demonstrated quite clearly that QRL has prejudged any application Munce may care to make during that period.
Even a first year lawyer knows that that constitutes a breach of natural justice.
Thus Bob has given Munce a legal leg up which he didn't previously have available until Bob opened his oh so big mouth.
And to think this bloke is now head of the ARB. Saints preserve us!
Good old bob the builder,
He should learn to keep his trap shut.
Munce withdraw his application so therefore should not even been made pubic that he had a application in.
If munce wanted to get his licence back and it was (or as we hear now would) been revoked,then our dear bob could of made it public.
‘QRL Chairman Mr Bob Bentley has stated it is necessary to put on public record QRL’s ongoing position should a further application be received.
Applicants for visiting jockey licences in Queensland are required by the rules of racing and licensing procedures to satisfy several conditions. In particular, an applicant must be free of any penalty from a racing authority in Australia or overseas'
That being so QRL didn't have any option other than to state what the Rules require.There is no denial of natural justice in stating the case .Munce should have appealed the Hong Kong disqualification when he had the opportunity but he chose not to ,probably had some inside from V'landys who it appears was the sole decision maker in the absence of a properly constituted Board which has since been appointed and presumeably has to live with the decision made for it.
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