Bowman appeals against severity of 35-meet ban
MELBOURNE Cup runnerup Hugh Bowman will appeal against the severity of his 35meeting ban, which provided a dramatic postscript to Tuesday’s race.
Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matthew Hyland yesterday confirmed Bowman would challenge the length of the ban that has cost him the chance to chase backto-back Japan Cups on Cheval Grand on November 25.
The ban has also seen him miss Group 1 rides on Latrobe (Mackinnon Stakes) and Brave Smash (VRC Sprint Classic) at Flemington on Saturday.
“He’s appealing the severity of the penalty,” Hyland said. “We will wait for a date to be determined for when that is going to be heard.”
Bowman initially copped a 41-meeting ban — 12 for care- less riding on Marmelo, eight for being seven above the allowable whip limit of five strikes before the last 100m, and 21 for weighing in 1kg overweight. Stewards reduced the penalty to 35 meetings, which rules him out until early December.
Bowman’s agent, Bryan Haskins, said the jockey thought the suspension was “a little bit harsh”.
“I think he said with the overweight thing, it was three times the normal suspension, so that’s the reason he thought he might have a crack (at an appeal),” he said.
Stewards fined five jockeys for their whip use in the Cup, including winner Kerrin McEvoy and third placegetter Michael Walker.
McEvoy was fined $3000 for using the whip on Cross Counter nine times before the last 100m.
“It just happened,” he said yesterday. “I was a long way back and I gave my horse the opportunity to respond and I think I was three over the allotted amount we were given.
“It’s something that’s monitored closely … it’s my first breach in three years, so it’s something I keep a close eye on. The whip rule works well.”