Cross country jockey Aaron Lynch was suspended for five jumps races for easing Our Aristocrat down over the final stages of the hurdle, costing him second place at Sandown on Wednesday.
Our Aristocrat finished third to Black And Bent with stewards ruling that Lynch not riding the gelding out over the last 80 metres cost him second place.
The margin between second and third was a half-neck.
Chairman of stewards Allan Reardon said Lynch had told stewards that he lost his near-side rein jumping the last hurdle of the 3300m event but rode Our Aristocrat out from the 150m to the 80m.
Lynch told stewards he eased his mount up at that point as he was worried about the jump after the winning post which the four-horse field negotiated the first time around.
Steven Pateman was fined $300 for being a kilogram overweight on Fareer who was runner-up to Phaze Action in the 3300m steeplechase.
Stewards let Pateman fulfil the engagement as there wasn’t a replacement rider available.
