Johnson cops suspension
Top jockey Danielle Johnson picked up a five-day suspension for careless riding in the fifth race at Hastings on Saturday.
Johnson was riding the winner Arraignment who she allowed to shift inwards in the concluding stages of the 1400m Rating 65 race causing checks to Poker Face and Constant Barrage.
Johnson’s suspension begins at the conclusion of racing on Wednesday and continues up to and including racing on Friday October 6. She will return for the Livamol Classic meeting at Hastings on October 7.
Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson was fined $400 for scratching Beefeater from the last race on the Hastings card without the required authorisation.
He had requested permission to scratch the horse due to the track conditions, but considering official track conditions were still as declared prior to the official scratching time, stewards were not satisfied that there were circumstances which warranted the scratching.
In the day’s feature the Windsor Park Plate, stewards noted that Mime was held up for a run from the 600m having to be angled inwards to obtain clear running approaching the 300.
In the same race Aide Memoire made contact with Kawi when attempting to obtain clear running near the 500m.
When questioned regarding the mare’s performance her rider advised she tended to over-race, had been quickly beaten once placed under pressure and had been disappointing.
A post-race veterinary inspection did not revealed any obvious abnormality. Johnathan Parkes rider of Volpe Veloce advised that the mare had received a nice run in the Windsor but had not felt entirely comfortable in the track conditions and had been unable to finish the race off.
He thought she may be better suited dropping back in distance.
Co-trainer Graham Richardson said he would be looking to freshen the mare and confirmed she was likely to drop back in distance for her next start.
Third in the race, Kawi had to be steadied just short of the finish when placed in restricted room between second placed Close Up and the winner Gingernuts.
Meanwhile New Plymouth apprentice jockey Alfred Chan had an expensive day at Riccarton on Saturday.
Chan was found guilty of excessive use of the whip prior to the 100m mark on Holyfield and fined $350 and again later on Zartan and fined $500.
At Pukekohe on Sunday Hairi Marzuki was found guilty of careless riding on Wooden Edge and suspended seven riding days from Thursday until October 18.
At the same meeting Jasmine Fawcett was fined $350 for excessive use of whip for her ride aboard the Nigel Tiley-trained Call Me Bob.
At Taupo on Friday Ryan Elliot was found guilty of careless riding aboard Culzean and suspended for six riding days which ends on October 7.