The connections of Riccarton galloper Sir Clive need a new rider for the horse in the New Zealand Derby following the suspension of jockey Damian Browne before a race was run at Riccarton yesterday.
A stunned Browne was stood down until December 30 for riding at Winton last Sunday and partnering Sir Clive in the Bayer Classic at Otaki on Thursday when he had not produced a medical clearance for a popped shoulder, for which he was stood down on New Zealand Cup day.
The New Zealand Derby is run at Ellerslie on December 26.
Browne, devastated by the penalty, had pleaded guilty.
The judicial panel, responding to Browne's shock at missing the derby ride on Sir Clive, told the jockey he would compromise his own safety and that of other riders if he rode again before fully fit.
Browne was at fault under the rule which puts the responsibility clearly on the jockey to provide a clearance from a medical practitioner - he also failed a fitness test before being stood down today.
Browne was stood down after riding Dream early on New Zealand Cup day. It was the second time he had popped a shoulder, which he had injured in a game of touch football.
Browne was not asked to produce a clearance at Winton, even though stipendiary steward John Hunter had also been officiating at Riccarton during the cup meeting.
In previous years, jockeys carried a medical book which recorded all raceday injuries. They are no longer used.
Said Hunter: "The rule requires that a rider produce a clearance at acceptance time, either to a stipendiary steward, racecourse inspector, or a New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing official. I was not aware that it had not been done."
He conceded that on several occasions stewards had allowed jockeys to ride when clearances were only produced on raceday.
"But trainers are entitled to know at acceptance time whether the jockey they have engaged will be fit and cleared to ride.
"When he was examined on cup day, the doctor specifically directed that he should not ride a horse either in training or racing for at least a month, unless a clearance was gained."
Browne had been having treatment for the injury from sports medical staff, and believed he was fit to ride.
The case arose when another stipendiary steward Bruce Craik checked out the clearance today with Browne.
"Damian had spoken to me before the cup meeting about getting a clearance from the first injury, so was fully aware of what was required," Craik said.
"It is tough he has to miss the derby ride, but it will give him the chance to get the shoulder problem right. The judicial committee specifically praised his contribution to South Island racing, and hoped he would soon be back 100 per cent fit."
The Browne-Williams stable combination has had a frustrating time in the past two weeks.
Sir Clive lost the Two Thousand Guineas by a nod of the head and put up a huge performance to run third in the Bayer, which Browne considered he might have won.
- NZPA
Racing: Popped shoulder buys suspension
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