Miners Rest trainer Matt Cumani says he doesn't support an outright ban on the whip in racing, but admitted he wouldn't be overly concerned if it ever reached that point.
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Cumani weighed in on the debate which has been reignited following Racing Victoria's announcement this week that it would be seeking further whip reform by the end of 2020.
RV says it will propose that from 2021 riders are only permitted to use the whip on a maximum number of occasions throughout the entire race and never in a horse's consecutive strides. The current Australian Rules of Racing permit the use of the whip a maximum of five times in non-consecutive strides prior to the 100m mark and at the rider's discretion in the final 100m of a race where its use in consecutive strides is permitted.
READ MORE: Racing looks to make changes to whip use
"I think spacing out whip use and reducing overall hits is a good idea," Cumani said.
"Apart from anything else, the rule is applied to everyone so I don't think anyone loses out. I don't think any punters lose out, I don't think jockeys lose out, I don't think anyone. No one is disadvantaged by it.
"And if you have a horse that responds only to the whip, I don't think they (warrant) a win as well as a horse that naturally is the best horse in the race and will do it without extra stimulation."
RV articulated that jockeys should be permitted to continue to carry whips at all times.
"I'm not in favour of an outright ban, but again if it were to happen I don't see that as being a huge problem to be honest," Cumani said.
