James McDonald will miss the final two days of the Sydney autumn carnival after being suspended for careless riding in the Golden Slipper.
Importantly, he will be free to continue his association with star colt and favourite It’s A Dundeel in the Australian Derby next weekend but risks relinquishing the mount in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes two weeks later if connections press on to that race.
McDonald was outed for seven meetings for causing interference aboard Romantic Moon coming to the first turn in the Slipper with eventual runner-up Sidestep the victim.
“It’s a big race and we warned riders before the race,” chief steward Ray Murrihy said in handing down the suspension.
“What you do is pretty rude there, you barrel (jockey) Kerrin McEvoy in and he gets on heels.”
McDonald’s penalty begins after he rides at Randwick next Saturday and takes in the Doncaster Mile and Sydney Cup meetings before he can resume on April 28.
He was also reprimanded for causing interference near the winning post in the BMW, as was top jockey Craig Williams who attracted the attention of stewards for shifting out aboard Aeronautical in the final race when not clear of other runners.
“You’ve got a foot on the till of a suspension but in this case we issue a reprimand,” Murrihy told Williams.
