Only racing could produce the whirlwind of luck jockeys Noel Harris and Gavin McKeon had on Saturday.
Harris left Riccarton downcast after Naturo broke down in the 1000 Guineas and he knew he wasn't going to be on Pentathon in this week's New Zealand Cup despite winning the
lead-up on Saturday.
Things could not have gotten much worse.
This should have been one of McKeon's best days of riding.
He could have ridden 1000 Guineas winner Dorabella and Pentathon and was engaged for Pentathon for the New Zealand Cup.
That was until trainer Ralph Manning decided to back up Seachange into Saturday's A$750,000 Emirates Stakes in Melbourne.
He not only lost the winning ride in the two richest races at Riccarton, but he copped what is a month's suspension for the Seachange ride.
All up that's about $14,000 in winning percentages if Pentathon wins the Cup and you wouldn't be betting against that after the lead-up win in the Metropolitan on Saturday.
And, of course, Harris has now landed that ride.
"It's bad luck for Gavin, but I'm happy to have Noel on Pentathon," said trainer John Wheeler. "We've had a lot of luck together and he rode Pentathon beautifully yesterday."
Racing Victoria chief steward Des Gleeson said McKeon caused "horrendous" interference in Saturday's Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
Gleeson and his stewards' panel suspended McKeon for a total of 35 race meetings after he allowed Seachange to shift at the 1100m mark and interfere with Perfectly Ready, who then collided with Honor In War.
McKeon, 27, an Australian-based in New Zealand, became only the second jockey in Victoria to be charged with reckless riding, after its introduction earlier this year.
"Had McKeon not pleaded guilty and had an excellent riding record over the last five years, the penalty would have been far more severe," Gleeson said.
McKeon said he was "extremely upset. I apologise, I'm guilty, and I've ridden across Australia and internationally and I've never had anything like this happen before."
- NZPA
