British jockey Pat Cosgrave has been banned for six months for improper riding in a race in Dubai.
The 31-year-old, who rode Society Rock to win the 2011 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot, was aboard third-placed Anaerobio in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan on March 8.
Cosgrave set a slow pace on the 20-1 outsider, just in front of eventual winner Vercingetorix, who is also trained by Mike de Kock, and could be seen looking around to the stablemate before appearing to move wide on the home straight.
The penalty has been back-dated to start on March 17 and is due to finish at midnight on September 17.
Emirates Racing Authority stewards looked into the replay from the last three furlongs (600m) in what was a second hearing into the matter.
They took evidence from Cosgrave, De Kock and Vercingetorix’s rider Christophe Soumillon.
“Jockey Patrick Cosgrave was found guilty to a charge of improper riding pursuant to ERA 69 (i),” an ERA statement said.
“The particulars of the charge being that when riding Anaerobio, passing the 600 metres until approaching the 400 metres Cosgrave looked back to his inside on at least three occasions and at the turn into the home straight he intentionally allowed his mount to shift out approximately three horses, thereby allowing stablemate Vercingetorix a clear inside run.”
The ERA said it was a blatant breach of the rules and added there was no evidence implicating Soumillon or De Kock.
