Mark Zahra suspended at Caulfield
Jockey Mark Zahra has had a mixed day at Caulfield, winning a stakes race before being handed a suspension.
Zahra won the Vain Stakes on odds-on favourite Russian Revolution on Saturday.
The ride came after he was replaced on winning ride Great Esteem in the Beveridge Williams Handicap because he misjudged the time after a session in the sauna to lose weight.
His day ended with a 10-meeting suspension for careless riding on Lord Of The Sky in the PB Lawrence Stakes.
Racing Victoria stewards alleged Zahra didn’t stop riding and allowed Lord Of The Sky to shift out onto The Cleaner at the 150m mark, causing that horse to be checked.
Zahra pleaded guilty to the charge, which stewards deemed to be in the mid-range.
He will begin his suspension immediately and will return for the Sandown meeting on August 24.
Apprentice Brandon Stockdale was fined $500 for failing to ride fifth-placed Sadaqa out to the line in the Beveridge Williams Handicap.
Chief steward Terry Bailey said his panel couldn’t be satisfied his actions affected the result of the race, but if it had been clear-cut the apprentice would have faced suspension.