Gold Coast apprentice Ashley Butler will appeal the severity of a suspension for repeated excessive use of the whip with the support of his bosses.
Butler, who rode the unplaced Hialeah Jet in a race at Toowoomba on Friday, was outed for eight meetings for using his whip in a forehand manner on more than five occasions before the 100m.
The apprentice’s poor record went against him when stewards assessed the appropriate penalty.
Butler is apprenticed to “Team Meagher” – a partnership between Melbourne Cup winning trainer John Meagher and his sones Daniel and Chris – and he rode Harada Bay to win for the stable at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
After the win Daniel Meagher said Butler was a keen young rider who was trying too hard.
“I don’t see giving him a lengthy suspension will do him any good. He just needs a bit of extra help to curb his enthusiasm.
“So we will be appealing the sentence to see if we can get it varied.”
Meagher said Harada Bay would be given his chance in races 1600m or further in coming weeks.
“He was probably a run short when beaten at 1600 metres at his previous start but he will run it out with no problems,” he said.
