Leading jockey Luke Nolen says he will appeal a careless riding suspension which as it stands will cost him the ride on Lights Of Heaven in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield next Saturday.
Nolen was outed for 10 meetings after he pleaded not guilty to trying to force a run aboard the favourite Kulgrinda rounding the home turn in the Group Three McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, causing interference to Satin Shoes.
Racing Victoria stewards considered the interference to be in the low range.
“I don’t think I’m guilty of this at all,” Nolen, who has been suspended three times since July, said.
Nolen was outed from midnight on Saturday and, as the suspension stands, is free to return at Sandown on Wednesday week.
Apart from the Group One Underwood (1800m) he will miss riding Hallowell Belle in the Group Three Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on the same program.
Queensland jockey Damian Browne had a memorable day at the Valley, riding a double at his first appearance in Melbourne for 15 years and then being suspended for careless riding.
Browne, who won the McEwen on the Robert Heathcote-trained Buffering and the last event on stablemate Woorim, was outed for 12 meetings.
He pleaded guilty to causing interference on Buffering to Satin Shoes at the 700m and was suspended from midnight on Sunday and is free to resume riding on Saturday week.
Stewards considered the interference to be in the medium range.
AAP TURF
