Less than a fortnight after returning to the saddle after an improper riding ban, leading jockey Blake Shinn has been suspended for careless riding.
Shinn pleaded guilty to careless riding on Cornwall Park, the runner-up in the Berant Builders Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Shinn pleaded guilty to careless riding on Cornwall Park, the runner-up in the Berant Builders Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm - Photo by Steve Hart
Stewards found Shinn allowed Cornwall Park to shift inwards as he was making a run towards the lead 200m out, which contributed to Brenton Avdulla’s mount Cosmonaut being tightened between runners.
Shinn elected to start a four-meeting suspension immediately and he will return to riding on July 23.
He only recently returned to racing after serving a six-week suspension for improper riding against Avdulla in a race at Canterbury in May.
Avdulla was among several jockeys to give evidence at the Shinn inquiry but it was completed in his absence because he was taken to hospital for X-rays after he was struck by a flying horse shoe soon after the start of the Super Saver Handicap.
Riding the $41 chance Sherzando, Avdulla tried to take evasive action when the near hind plate of Mount Verde was dislodged 50m after the start before striking him just above his right ear.
Despite obvious difficulty, Avdulla managed to ride Sherzando out to the line in ninth place.
Avdulla later emerged from the Warwick Farm jockeys’ room nursing an ice pack to the side of his head before he was put on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to nearby Liverpool Hospital.
“He is going for X-rays because there is some concern over his temple area,” acting chief steward Greg Rudolph said.
