Guineas-winning jockey cops 10-meeting ban
Michael Walker has been suspended for 10 meetings on a careless riding charge aboard his Caulfield Guineas-winning mount Mighty Boss.
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.
Racing Victoria stewards charged Walker with careless riding near the 500m mark of the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday when he permitted his mount to shift out leaving insufficient racing room for Azazel.
Chief steward Terry Bailey said his panel took into consideration Walker’s guilty plea, his recent good record and the time spent out through injury, but could not overlook it was a Group One race.
Walker’s suspension starts following Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup meeting and he can return for the Geelong Cup meeting on October 25.
Walker was disappointed with being suspended.
“I just get on a roll and then get outed,” he said.
Singapore-based Glen Boss was suspended for 10 meetings for careless riding aboard Riven Light in the Caulfield Stakes while Dean Yendall received the same penalty for careless riding on Mr Sneaky in the Toorak Handicap.
Stewards also reported that $5.50 Caulfield Cup favourite Bonneval pulled up lame following her sixth in the Group One Caulfield Stakes.