Cole receives fine and suspension
Reece Cole had an up and down day at Te Aroha on Sunday.
The Matamata jumps jockey was delighted to win a maiden hurdle aboard Fast Catch and gave an exuberant salute to the skies to acknowledge the recent passing of his good friend Jason Hercock.
The gesture cost him $100 after stewards took exception and charged Cole who pleaded guilty to making a celebratory gesture prior to winning post.
‘‘They [the judiciary] were actually pretty lenient on me,’’ Cole said.
‘‘Fines for that offence can be as much as $300.’’
Fast Catch won well even though he misjudged the final fence landing awkwardly but Cole thinks he is still learning.
‘‘He will keep improving and I think he will pick up a couple more,’’ he said.
Cole’s time in the inquiry room didn’t end there. He was back in the room facing a charge of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to allow Old Countess to finish in the best possible placing in race three.
Cole admitted a breach of the rule and was suspended for four riding days. He will be out of action until July 29. He is disappointed to miss meetings at Trentham, Te Aroha, Wanganui and Rotorua. D’llaro and Arabian Duke are among plum rides he will forego while out.
In the day’s open steeplechase an inquiry was opened following the race when connections of the second placed horse Istimagic lodged a protest against the winner Noah Jon alleging interference in the final straight.
After hearing submissions the judicial committee dismissed the protest.
In the same race, jockey Michael Gibbs-manson had an uncomfortable time.
His mount Sino Heights raced keenly after jumping the first fence with the saddle shifting forward placing the jockey in difficulty for the remainder of the race.
The horse jumped the fourth fence poorly with the rider becoming unbalanced for a distance and again put in a poor jump near the 1000m mark when commencing to weaken.
At Ashburton on Friday, apprentice Jacob Lowry’s bag of three winners was offset when stewards suspended his licence from the conclusion of the day’s racing up to and including July 28 (3 days) on a careless riding charge to which he pleaded guilty.