Hugh Bowman’s hopes of riding Underwood Stakes winner Lion Tamer in next Saturday’s Yalumba Stakes gave been dashed after he was suspended for nine meetings at Flemington.
And Rick Hore-Lacy will have to find another jockey for Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Toorak Toff in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) after Craig Williams was outed for seven meetings in the same Flemington race on Sunday.
Bowman’s suspension starts at midnight on Wednesday and brings him back for Caulfield Cup Day.
Williams is suspended until after next Saturday’s feature meeting at Caulfield.
Bowman pleaded guilty to careless riding on Trump who shifted in near the 1700 metres and caused interference to three horses in the UCI Stakes (1800m).
Cornell, Bashan, and Tremac were all victims and stewards deemed the interference to be in the medium range.
They took into account Bowman’s guilty plea, good riding record, and the time of year when they reduced what would normally have been a 14-meeting suspension.
Bowman won last year’s Victoria Derby on New Zealander Lion Tamer who returned to winning form in the Underwood Stakes when ridden by Michael Rodd.
The Murray Baker-trained Lion Tamer is the equal $9 favourite with Sunday’s Turnbull Stakes winner December Draw for the Melbourne Cup.
Williams pleaded not guilty to careless riding on Berenger who shifted in near the 1400 metres in the UCI Stakes.
The Deep South and Eagle Command both suffered interference but stewards noted The Deep South had been over-racing and had contributed to the incident which was rated as being in the low range.
Williams’ unblemished record for nearly two years until two weeks ago when he was suspended at Sandown helped reduce his penalty from 10 days to eight.
AAP TURF
