In-form Spratt suspended
Sam Spratt will spend time on the sidelines after a double-barrell from stewards.
Suspensions were handed down to the popular jockey at Te Awamutu on Friday and again at Pukekohe on Saturday resulting in her being out of action until December 17.
Spratt has been the form rider at recent premier meetings with her 1000 Guineas win on Hasahalo and New Zealand Cup on Gobstopper the previous weekend followed by success on Fully Funded on Saturday.
Her ‘holiday’ was to start at the conclusion of racing at Te Rapa on Sunday and was due to careless riding charges incurred at the two meetings.
At Pukekohe in the 2-year-old feature, Spratt admitted a breach of careless riding for allowing her mount Kailani Sunset to shift in near the 1000m when not sufficiently clear of the eventual winner Melt which was dictated into crowding Lite My Cigar and Frosted who were both checked.
The judiciary suspended her licence to ride for 10 riding days. On Friday her ride aboard Express Call earned her a five meeting suspension.
Also at Pukekohe, Maia Vance aboard Howbowdat was fined $300 for excessive use of the whip.
Visiting Australian jockey Jake Bayliss had his first brush with Kiwi stewards at Te Awamutu and will serve a five day suspension as a result.
Bayliss admitted a breach of careless riding in that he angled Kane out passing the 300m mark when insufficiently clear of other runners.
At Awapuni on Saturday Sam O’Malley was fined $200 when he weighed in a kilogram overweight on Constant Barrage.
At the same meeting Madan Singh was suspended for nine days for careless riding on Class Above.
Across the Tasman an inquiry into the tactics of a number of jockeys riding in Saturday’s Benchmark 71 over 1400m at Rosehill was adjourned by stewards following a heated exchange.
‘‘We’re looking into Blake Shinn’s ride in the early stages where he could have elected to take the sit behind the leaders rather than press the pace,’’ said chief steward Marc Van Gestel.
‘‘We are also questioning Andrew Adkins [Burden Of Proof] in respect to his tactics when allowing the winner [Bull Market] to cross his mount in the early stages and get a run one off the fence with some cover.
‘‘We also had a chat to Rachel King about her ride.’’
Shinn took particular exception to the line of questioning from deputy chief steward Philip Dingwall and said: ‘‘That’s why I’ve ridden 1700 winners. How many have you ridden Mr Dingwall?’’