Apprentice Tom Sadler has had a mixed day at Sandown, riding a winner for his father John and incurring his second suspension in three days.
Sadler guided Japanese import The Bandit to victory in the final race but was suspended for careless riding from the opening race aboard Star Fortune.
The apprentice was outed for shifting in on Star Fortune, causing interference to Damien Oliver’s mount Recalculate at the 1000m mark of the 1400m race.
The two filled the minor placings with Star Fortune relegated from second to third after a protest from Oliver.
Sadler’s ban starts after a seven-meeting suspension from Caulfield on Saturday and he can return on April 8.
Sadler said it was terrific to combine with his father to win with The Bandit, although the apprentice was fined $400 for using the whip twice more than allowed before the 100m.
The Bandit wore down his rivals in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1800m) and John Sadler said he was a horse that would be better over further.
The Bandit is the first horse Sadler has trained for Paul Fudge of Waratah Thoroughbreds.
“Through Phil Sly I was invited up to Paul’s property and I said to Paul `I saw a Japanese horse there, he’s a lovely horse’,” Sadler said.
“And about a week later I got a phone call from a float company saying they had him on a float coming down. It’s just a thrill to train a winner for him.”
