THIS is the moment a winning jockey accidentally hits a horse in the face – before stewards revealed why the result was allowed to stand.
Cameras captured the moment promising jockey Melea Castle bashed rival Foreign Territory in the closing stages of a race.
Jockey Jaden Lloyd can be seen frantically trying to get Foreign Territory back on track after the contact looked to leave him momentarily dazed.
The seven-year-old gelding regrouped to finish the race strongly, but still more than a length behind Castle on her winning mount Conquer The Stars.
Social media was ablaze with comments after the inadvertant strike from Castle was picked up on replays.
Stewards quizzed Castle, 22, after the race for her version of events.
She insisted the contact was accidental and that she did not know the rival horse was so close to her.
The stewards released a report which read: "FOREIGN TERRITORY (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Raced in restricted room leaving the 300m and lost ground when struck across the nose by the whip of another rider.
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"Stewards questioned apprentice M Castle, the rider of CONQUER THE STARS, in relation to this incident, she stated that she had applied the whip to CONQUER THE STARS during the early part of the home straight and was not aware that FOREIGN TERRITORY had improved to her outside until her whip made contact with that runners head after passing the 300m.
"Stewards examined the video coverage of the event in the presence of apprentice Castle and were satisfied that the incident had been accidental as the whip action adopted when she struck the head of FOREIGN TERRITORY was unchanged from the occasions the whip was applied prior to and subsequent to this application.
"Stewards also took into account the relative inexperience of Apprentice Castle, however she was nonetheless advised to be mindful of rider and horse welfare when applying the whip to her mounts."
Castle's representative JM Management also released a statement in light of comments on the incident.
It read: "Melea Castle was riding in only her 284th race. Incredibly, she has been able to win again on Conquer The Stars.
"She has had a great association with the horse, winning all three opportunities she has received from the Craig Cousins stable.
"Unfortunately, in the run, she has accidentally come in contact with the horse on her near side.
"She was going for the persuader when she made contact with a horse's head.
"Melea loves the industry and more importantly the horses.
CLEARED BY STEWARDS
"It is a shame there are reports Melea has made 'deliberate contact' with the other horse.
"It's also a shame that she has to deal with these comments.
"Mental health in this climate is very important. The comments and accusations on social media can really take a toll on people, especially apprentices.
"She was cleared of any deliberate contact. Melea would like to also say sorry to the connections of Foreign Territory for the accidental contact."
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