D’Avila handed ban at Rocky

TABLELANDS hoop Wanderson D’Avila will have an extended new year holiday after he received a suspension at Rockhampton Jockey Club on Saturday.

The leading Far North jockey took five rides at Rockhampton and just fell short of claiming a winner in the fourth of the afternoon, the Class 1 Handicap (1050m).

Riding Bels Impact for trainer Jamie McConachy, D’Avila was beaten on the line by Barachiel, trained by Jim O’Shea, by 0.2 lengths.

The Brazilian hoop copped an eight-day suspension in that race for careless riding, which will commence at midnight on January 6.

“D’Avila was found guilty of a charge of careless riding in that near the 900m he permitted his mount to shift in and dictated Bring Me Luck inward,” the Rockhampton stewards report read.

“Stewards considered this a low-range offence.”

Meanwhile, the Far North owned Magnu fighter ran an encouraging fifth in the $200,000 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) on Saturday afternoon at Doomben.

Earlier in the day, the fellow Far North-owned Monsieur Gustave raced wide and finished 26 lengths from the winner in the $150,000 The Buffering (1350m).

Following the race, trainer of Monsieur Gustave, Darryl Hansen, advised stewards the gelding would now be spelled.

Townsville’s Cluden Park hosts a meeting on Thursday with Innisfail on Saturday.