WELLINGTON - Leading jockey Darryl Bradley's premiership hopes have taken a nose dive after an appeal against a nine meeting suspension was dismissed in Wellington.
It means Bradley will be sidelined until June 11 and his five-win lead over Hayden Tinsley in the jockeys' premiership will be seriously threatened.
Bradley incurred the suspension at the Hawkes Bay meeting on May 11 when he was found to have allowed his mount Our Mr Bowe to move in and cause crowding to Ruakiwi Lad. In a chain reaction, Pompeii River was checked along with Shadow Man and Cavallo Bruno.
Bradley originally appealed against the finding as well as the penalty. But at appeal hearing on Saturday before Judge John Walker and Neville Harris, Bradley's counsel John Henderson withdrew the appeal against the finding but sought a reduction in penalty.
Henderson argued that Bradley was not the only culprit of the alleged interference and felt other riders, including Matthew Williamson (who rode Ruakiwi Lad), had also contributed.
"Bradley's mount clearly drifted in and created pressure but this was multiplied by Williamson's actions."
Henderson said the nine meeting suspension was out of proportion to the charge and said that of the 254 careless riding charges laid since August 1, 1998, Bradley's penalty was the second worse.
"Can it be concluded that this was the second worst case in that time - it's a safe bet that was not the case," he said.
While Henderson acknowledged that it was Bradley's sixth careless riding charge this year, he said Bradley's record in the previous 12 months had been impressive and that the number of charges this year was not excessive considering the number of rides (341) he had had.
Henderson said the maximum fine allowed under the rule was $5000 and he argued that a nine-day suspension would represent a far greater amount.
He added that Bradley had been under considerable pressure in both his personal and professional life.
Senior stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon argued that the interference was of a serious nature and that no other rider contributed.
"If Bradley had stayed on the correct line, interference would not have occurred," he said.
He listed Bradley's previous five convictions of careless riding this year which included a six-day suspension at New Plymouth on March 18. He pointed out that apprentice Michael Walker, who had had more rides than Bradley this year, had only incurred two charges of careless riding.
"It is a hazardous occupation at any time with horses speeding along at 60 kilometres an hour. It takes very little movement to create interference and safety is always paramount," McCutcheon said.
"Bradley has an unenviable record and it would appear the penalties have not had the desired result in deterring him.
"While the penalty was at the top end, under the circumstances with the degree of interference and his recent record, the judicial committee was justified in the decision it reached," he said.
In dismissing the appeal, Judge Walker said they had to find that the original penalty was manifestly excessive or inappropriate. In this case, they could not find that the penalty was manifestly wrong.
The committee decided not to award any costs but Bradley's $250 appeal deposit was forfeited.
- NZPA
Racing: Bradley fails to have 9-meeting penalty cut
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