Capel’s Cockney Crew likely to participate in re-scheduled Tabtouch Perth Cup

Lou Luciani’s gelding Cockney Crew is likely to participate in a re-scheduled version of the 2023 Tabtouch Perth Cup (2400m), on January 14, following tragic circumstances on New Year’s Day.

Less than 300m into Sunday’s showpiece event at Ascot, tragedy stuck following a collision between Chili is Hot and Dom To Shoot.

The injured mare Chili is Hot was euthanised post-race. All riders were relatively uninjured from the fall.

A distress signal was issued by on-course officials following the incident, with Cockney Crew leading the field well into the race.

Once it became clear the race was abandoned, leading jockey Troy Turner heeded the call to slow up the field aboard the Capel seven-year-old, with all riders proceeding to pull up their mounts safely.

On Monday, several jockeys attended a formal incident inquiry hearing into the incident.

RWWA stewards secured a wide range of evidence during the 90-minute hearing, which resulted in Buster Bash’s rider Joseph Azzopardi pleading guilty to careless riding.

Due to the severity of the fall, coupled by additional variables, Azzopardi was suspended for six weeks — effective from New Year’s Day, 2023.

When arriving at a decision, officials also took into account Azzopardi’s genuine remorse for the situation, along with his early plea.