Ben Allen suspended for whip rule breach
Ben Allen has been prolific for riding winners this season, but the leading apprentice has also racked up the numbers on an unwanted front.
And it’s caused stewards to suspend him for five days.
Allen rode his 80th winner in Victoria for 2015-2016 when he partnered the Darren Weir-trained Kenjorwood in Saturday’s Jim Conway Handicap at Sandown.
But not long after registering that winner, his eighth city success, 17-year-old Allen was suspended for breaching the whip rules aboard Master Of Arts in an earlier race on Saturday.
It was Allen’s 10th breach since the start of January, and stewards had issued him fines totalling $3500 for the previous offences.
“Our patience has run out,” chief steward Terry Bailey said.
Allen pleaded guilty to using the whip eight times before the 100m of the Le Pine Funerals Handicap on Master Of Arts, three more than allowed.
Allen’s suspension is due to start after he rides at Geelong on Tuesday.
“You’ve got a few days to try to bring it under control,” Bailey said.
Jockey Arron Lynch was suspended for 10 meetings for careless riding on Temps Voleur in the George Malone Memorial Plate.