Noonan set to miss Group One ride
A disappointed Jake Noonan is set to miss a Group One opportunity after being suspended for a winning ride in a stakes race at Caulfield.
Noonan was banned for nine meetings after pleading guilty to shifting in on Thoroughbred Club Cup winner Oregon’s Day at the 200m mark of Saturday’s race, tightening stablemate Epic Moment and causing his jockey Craig Newitt to check his mount.
Noonan’s suspension rules him out of next Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide where he has been booked to ride last-start stakes winner Precious Gem.
Noonan will consider appealing the severity of the ban in a desperate bid to keep the Group One ride.
“I’ve got a terrific record and I was on a quite a green horse. I’ve admitted before being charged that I was probably one stride too late in correcting,” Noonan told stewards before the penalty was considered.
“I’ve got a good ride in a Group One next Saturday and opportunities in Group Ones are pretty rare for me. So I’d like all that to be taken into consideration.”
The jockey even asked whether they would consider reducing the length of the penalty with the addition of a fine.
That was rejected by the stewards’ panel.
Stewards deemed the interference to be in the mid-range and took into account Noonan’s guilty plea and excellent riding record.
Nick Hall was suspended for six meetings for careless riding early in the same race on Lionhearted.
That suspension will be added on to a 14-meeting ban from Cranbourne on Friday night.
Patrick Moloney was also outed for 11 meetings for careless riding in the same race at Caulfield.
He pleaded guilty to the charge but will consider appealing the severity.