Weighty matters for Hugh

HUGH Bowman will argue a 21-meeting ban for weighing in overweight in the Melbourne Cup is excessive when he faces the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board today.

The champion jockey finished second on Marmelo before weighing in at 56kg instead of 55kg — 100g more than tolerated.

Bowman claims up to “four or five other jockeys weighed .9 over, which I am allowed to do”.

He said he had weighed out at 55kg 90 minutes before last Tuesday’s Cup but had drunk a bottle of water before mounting Marmelo.

“I knew exactly where my weight was at,” Bowman said on Channel 7. “And I misjudged it by 100g.

“If I was .9 over, I would have been right. (But) I came in exactly 1kg over and I’m not allowed to do it.

“I accept responsibility but I think the penalty far outweighs the problem.”

Bowman pleaded guilty to three charges out of the cup — careless riding, excessive whip use and weighing over.

Stewards imposed penalties of 12 meetings, eight meetings and 21 meetings.

Stewards ordered the bans be served cumulatively to avoid making the combined suspension excessive, reducing the term to 35 meetings.

It is unclear if Bowman intends appealing the careless riding and whip penalties.