Racing: Leith Innes Innes may appeal three-week ousting

Top jockey Leith Innes was last night undecided about appealing the three-week suspension he received at Trentham on Saturday.

Innes was ousted on a careless riding charge following the group three $75,000 Wellington Stakes (1600m) for 3-year-olds.

Innes was the rider of $2.15 hot favourite Wahid who was first across the line in the Wellington Stakes but following an inquiry was relegated to third for causing interference.

The suspension is due to start after Wednesday's racing and is up to and including February 12.

Innes said he would make a decision on an appeal in the next few days.

"I've got three days to put the appeal in. I'm thinking about it," he told NZPA.

Innes said the length of the suspension seemed harsh considering it took in the last day of the Wellington Cup meeting and the feature day of the Waikato meeting on February 11.

Wahid's relegation was a big disappointment for connections. The horse's Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock showed his disappointment by action rather than words.

Sharrock left in the inquiry room while judicial chairman Neville Harris was still delivering the judicial committee's decision.

The interference occurred inside the last 200m. Wahid drifted across to the rail after reaching the lead but at the same time Abbey Drive had dived through on the inner.

Abbey Drive's rider Grant Cooksley stood up in the stirrup irons before angling around Wahid and the horse came home well for third, a long neck away from second.

Cooksley said the incident definitely cost him second place and possibly victory.

Chief stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon said Wahid had taken the line of Abbey Drive. He said Cooksley had to stand up in the saddle for about five strides and that Abbey Drive was clearly in second place at the time.

He said there had been clear galloping room for Abbey Drive and Innes had taken Cooksley's rightful line of running.

Innes argued Abbey Drive was no more than an unlucky runner which occurred in many races.

Abbey Drive was subsequently promoted from third to second but the biggest winner of the whole affair was Chettak. He was promoted from second to first despite not being involved in the incident at all.

Chettak's trainer Stephen Marsh, of Woodville, couldn't believe his luck at his horse being awarded victory.

* Lisa Cropp was suspended for six riding days at Trentham.

She was found guilty of careless riding in the day's last race in which she rode the unplaced Volace.

The stipendiary stewards said Cropp allowed Volace to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Ipleadinsanity who suffered some jostling.Cropp's suspension starts after Wednesday's racing and is up to and including February 2.

- NZPA