Thompson, Cartwright suspended at Sandown
Ben Thompson has made it five city wins from the past two meetings with a winning double at Sandown, but the in-form apprentice has had his day soured by a careless riding suspension.
His seven-meeting means he will miss an important ride in Thursday week’s Blue Diamond Fillies Preview aboard the Robbie Griffiths-trained Zarpoya who is part-owned by Thompson’s parents.
Thompson pleaded guilty to shifting in early in the opening race on Wednesday aboard Alaskan Sun, making heavy contact with favourite and eventual winner Into Orbit who became unblanced and hampered.
His wins on Wednesday came aboard Cliff Hanger and Extra Olives for Lee and Anthony Freedman and followed on from the apprentice’s winning treble at Flemington last Saturday.
Meanwhile, an eventful day for fellow apprentice Georgina Cartwright has ended in a 14-meeting careless riding suspension.
Cartwright was beaten in a photo finish to the Mypunter.com Handicap (1300m) aboard Chateau Cheval but was suspended for careless riding aboard Ajuda in a later race for attempting to take a run on the inside in the straight when there was insufficient room.
Stewards charged 23-year-old Cartwright, who was having just her fourth ride in the metropolitan area in Melbourne, with attempting to take a run on the inside of Hi Suppose.
Ajuda also made contact with Hi Suppose in the incident with that horse becoming unbalanced.
Cartwright pleaded guilty to the charge.
Matthew Hyland, Racing Victoria’s apprentice coach, told stewards it was an error in judgement through inexperience rather than carelessness.
Stewards took into account Cartwright’s guilty plea and relative inexperience but viewed the incident in the high range.