Champion jockey James McDonald has been successful in getting his suspension for a whip infringement reduced on appeal and will now be free to ride at the Silver Slipper meeting at Rosehill.
Racing NSW stewards suspended McDonald for 10 days and fined him $20,000 for excessive use of the whip aboard the Chris Waller-trained Fireball in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
He was found to have used the whip nine times prior to the 100m, four times more than is permitted under the Australian Rules of Racing, and 20 times in total.
The hoop expressed his surprise at the punishment during the race day stewards’ inquiry, describing it as “harsh”, and subsequently lodged an appeal which was heard by the Racing NSW Appeals Panel on Wednesday.
The hearing lasted just under two hours, the stewards’ argument centring around the fact McDonald’s infringement occurred on a young, inexperienced horse.
However, after deliberation, the Panel ruled his suspension be reduced from 10 days to six, and his fine doubled to $40,000.
Sydney’s reigning premier jockey will now be free to ride at the important Silver Slipper and Hobartville Stakes program at Rosehill on February 21 and won’t miss a Saturday metropolitan meeting.
He is in action at Randwick this weekend where his mounts are headlined by glamour mare Autumn Glow in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).
