Two jockeys suspended over Qld Derby fall

corey brown
Two jockeys have been suspended over the Qld Derby fall in which Corey Brown was injured.

Tommy Berry and Matt McGillivray have been suspended for careless riding which led to a fall in the Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in which fellow jockey Corey Brown suffered serious injuries.

McGillivray, who rode Grand Bouquet, was suspended for three weeks while Berry on Nobu, was suspended for two weeks after they were found guilty of the charges.

A third jockey, Tim Clark, was originally also charged but after submissions was found not guilty.

Dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Brown fell from Lord Arthur in the incident on June 8 and suffered serious injuries including fractures in his back.

The 43-year-old is likely to be sidelined for up to a year but has been able to work as a television commentator.

Lord Arthur was euthanised on the day.

McGillivray was charged with trying to take a run at the 300m where there was insufficient room.

Clark was charged with allowing his mount Star of Carrum to shift out when not clear of horses on his outside while Berry was charged with allowing Nobu to shift in when not clear of horses on his inside.

All three pleaded not guilty and stewards accepted that Clark had not contributed enough to the incident to warrant a conviction.

McGillivray was suspended from October 30 to November 20 while Berry was outed from October 30 to November 13.

Both will appeal and seek an internal review which should ensure they will not miss any remaining meetings of the spring carnival.

Queensland chief steward Peter Chadwick said there had been contributing factors for both riders.

“Therefore we will not impose the full penalty for interference causing a fall,” Chadwick said.

“But we must take into account the result which was the fall.”

The inquiry was delayed four months after problems getting all jockeys required to give evidence in Brisbane with McGillivray the only local.

Stewards opened an inquiry on the day and adjourned it until Brown was fit to give evidence.

Several video replays including an overhead shot were assembled to help give a complete view of the incident.

The inquiry heard the incident happened when the four horses were making their runs in the straight.

Star of Carrum and Grand Bouquet were on Lord Arthur’s inside and Nobu to the outside.

Brown said he felt the pressure had come from McGillivray and Clark on the inside.

McGillivray said he felt he had established a run on Grand Bouquet between Brown and Clark when Star of Carrum shifted and Nobu came in.

Clark said Star of Carrum was tiring and had shifted slightly but he felt he had not contributed to the fall.

Berry said he felt he had only moved in marginally on Nobu and the horses inside Lord Arthur had come out.

Chadwick said the stewards found McGillivray had gone for a run without sufficient room while Berry had contributed by shifting in.

“In Clark’s case there is insufficient evidence to sustain the charge” he said.

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