A New Zealand-based South African jockey has been disqualified for life over charges relating to a conspiracy to harm a rival jockey during a race.

The 42-year-old, Brandon Morgenrood was issued the penalty this week, after pleading guilty to three charges in relation to his planning to attempt to cause a fall to his ex-partner, fellow jockey Tina Comignaghi, during a race.

The specific charges alleged that Morgenrood:

On 21 February 2020 threatened to cause Class A Jockey Miss Tina Comignaghi to fall in Race 4 at the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting at Riccarton on 21 February 2020 in breach of Rule 801(1)(s)(i) of the New Zealand Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

Between 11 and 18 February 2020 did an act that caused undue suffering to the horse VIVACE LADY by pulling on its mouth unnecessarily while riding the said horse in track work which resulted in the said horse suffering cuts and abrasions to the inside of its mouth in breach of Rule 801(1)(p) of the New Zealand Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

On 18 February 2020 counselled Jockey Brett Murray to commit a Serious Racing Offence by encouraging the said Jockey to ride in a manner that would assist him to cause Jockey Tina Comignaghi to fall in Race 4 at the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting on 21 February 2020 being an offence under Rule 801(1)(w) of the New Zealand Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

Stewards heard that after the relationship ended in December 2019, Morgenrood had regularly left and sent inappropriate messages to his ex-partner.

On February 9, Morgenrood sent a text to Comignaghi stating "I'm gonna f**K u over big time!".

As a result of the threatening and abusive texts, Comignaghi ‘blocked’ Morgenrood from communication on February 10, however the harassing and intimidating behaviour continued.

The following week Morgenrood put one cent into her bank out with the description "F**k u", "2x" and "again".

The three charges related to a race on February 21 where Comignaghi was riding a Vivace Lady in a race at Canterbury.

It was discovered that Morgenrood, who had been riding Vivace Lady in trackwork, had been pulling unnecessarily on the horse's mouth for several days, with his motive being to ensure the horse would react in a particular way with the knowledge Comignaghi had been engaged to ride the mare.

Stewards also heard that Morgenrood approached fellow jockey Brett Murray on February 18, asking him to push up on his mount in the race on February 21 to prevent Comignaghi from crossing, leaving her exposed to Morgenrood who would then be able to cause interference.

On the day of the race, two trials were held before the commencement of the meeting.

Prior the first trial, Morgenrood entered the female jockey's room where a heated discussion took place with his ex-partner.

Comignaghi told Mr Morgenrood to “drop it, drop it” and to leave the room to which Morgenrood replied, “the only thing that’s going to drop is you in the race”.

The interactions were witnessed by another jockey who reported it to stewards.

In penalty submissions, Morgenrood's counsel said his client did not willingly accept that his actions amounted to being guilty of the offences, but he does accept his guilt.

He said Morgenrood was remorseful and ashamed that it was thought he would deliberately set about hurting a fellow jockey.

In delivering the life ban, stewards said such a calculated, premeditated and intentional offending had no place in racing.

They said the overall plan was to ride in a specified and tactical manner which would have placed Comignaghi in a potentially grave prdicament along with other riders and horses.

Morgenrood had previously been issued a life ban for race fixing in South Africa where he was licensed from 1992-93 to 2015-16, before that was reduced to a five-year ban on appeal.

The jockey was stood down by stewards from riding on the day he was plotting a mid-race incident, at Canterbury on February 21 this year.

Punters.com.au