Top jockey Brenton Avdulla was fined $4000 when he signalled with 50m to go for She’s Extreme to ‘come on, catch up’ when his mount Fireburn thrashed her in the Gr 1 Sires’ two weeks ago.
Many thought it an unfair fine as there was no malice involved, no chance of losing the race, nothing unsafe about it and not meant in any way to want the other horse to beat him home. In fact, it was theatre and much appreciated by most who watched on.
Well, if he repeats the gesture again today when Fireburn takes on She’s Extreme again in the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m, his fine will be covered.
“I’m calling on Brenton to do another salute on Fireburn and I’ll pay the fine,” said prominent defence attorney and racehorse owner Wayne Pasterfield.
Avdulla was hauled into the Steward’s Room after his Sires’ win and asked to explain his gesture.
Which he did, but the over-cautious, over-officious Stewards decided it was a bad look.
In the words of chief steward Marc Van Gestel, Avdulla was “willing the second horse on”. An act the jockey told Stewards was directed at She’s Extreme’s trainer Anthony Cummings.
He wasn’t willing it on at all. It was a Gr 1 race, with 50m to go and Fireburn was nearly 2 lengths clear.
Anyway, it will be interesting to watch Avdulla today and if Pasterfield, who often defends jockeys in hearings when fined by Stewards, follows through.
