Walker reins upset winner
Michael Walker produced a peach of a ride on $101 shot Mighty Boss to score an almighty upset in the
A$2 million Caulfield Guineas, but it has come at a massive cost.
He has been suspended for 10 meetings on a careless riding charge.
The ex-pat Kiwi jockey has been in sublime form since returning from a career-threatening back injury in July after more than five months out on the sidelines and was disappointed with being suspended.
‘‘I just get on a roll and then get outed,’’ he said.
The suspension rules Walker out from riding Main Stage, who is equal favourite in the Victoria Derby, in next Saturday’s Caulfield Classic.
He was also in the running for the Lloyd Williams-owned Sir Isaac Newton in the Caulfield Cup.
Walker’s suspension starts following Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup meeting and he can return for the Geelong Cup meeting on October
25.
Earlier, former Kiwi filly Aloisia was a one and a quarter length winner of the Group I Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
The Azamour filly began her career with Matamata trainer Jason Price. She finished fifth and second in her pair of two-year-old starts on New Zealand soil.
The victory gave Aaron Purcell his first Group I winner. The Victorian trainer has taken over from Ciaron Maher who is currently suspended.
Meanwhile, up at Randwick, the Stephen Marsh-trained Chocante faded late to finish back in seventh in the St Leger Stakes (2600m). The Kiwi owned Who Shot Thebarman finished back in ninth.
The race was won by the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke.