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SYDNEY - Top Kiwi jockey Leith Innes has had his ban for a positive drugs test reduced but remains sidelined until October 21.
Innes' six-month suspension of his jockey's licence for testing positive for Ecstasy in June was yesterday reduced to four months by Queensland's Racing Appeals Tribunal, who also added a A$2000 fine.
Innes was appealing the severity of the sentence following the test at the Queensland Oaks meeting at Eagle Farm on June 2.
It means Innes, a former New Zealand jockey premiership winner, will still miss the Hawkes Bay treble of group one races in September and early October.
In a statement after his sentence was handed down by Queensland Racing (QR) stewards in June, Innes admitted the charges but vowed to return.
"I took a tablet without full knowledge of its contents and that foolishness has resulted in my paying a hefty price," he said.
"I look forward to completing the suspension and returning to racing and will draw inspiration from others who have put similar issues behind them and returned to the saddle, not just as better riders, but as better people."
Innes couldn't be contacted for comment last night but he has one final avenue of appeal, the Queensland District Court.
QR senior steward Norm Torpey said he accepted the tribunal's decision.
"We did think six months was the appropriate penalty," he said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's 2006-07 champion jockey Lisa Cropp faces a wait of up to one week to discover if she'll be suspended for her Brisbane Cup ride on Hawkes Bay mare Lilakyn. Cropp also fronted the tribunal yesterday as QR stewards sought to have her three-month ban reinstated.
The tribunal reserved its decision. Regulations state it must be handed down within one week.
A QR lower level appeals panel originally upheld Cropp's appeal in June after stewards issued a three-month ban for failing to ride out Lilakyn to the finish of the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on June 11.
The panel members ruled they weren't satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt where Cropp started to ease.
QR chief steward Reid Sanders immediately appealed the decision to the second-tier tribunal.
Lilakyn was beaten a nose by Newport, and stewards originally ruled Cropp cost the mare the race by waving one arm in a victory salute just short of the winning post.
Cropp has always maintained her innocence, while Lilakyn's owner Sam Kelt said in June he had no problem with Cropp's ride.
- NZPA
