Racing: Waddell to miss over two weeks in saddle

New Zealand's top apprentice jockey Jason Waddell was yesterday suspended for 2 1/2 weeks and fined $500 for an incident following this month's Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.

The incident happened past the finishing post of the group one race for 2-year-olds at Awapuni on April 1, a race won by Jokers Wild.

The judicial decision from yesterday's inquiry said Waddell "deliberately directed his mount Naturo inward on to Imananabaa, forcing that runner down toward the running rail".

The judicial committee said Imananabaa's rider Cameron Lammas had to take evasive action.

Naturo was the favourite for the $125,000 race but finished fourth after having suffered interference from the unplaced Imananabaa during the race.

The day after the race, Lammas said Waddell was angry at the interference Naturo had suffered and he believed Waddell tried to knock him over the rail after the finish.

Yesterday's judicial decision said Naturo had come from four horse widths out and made contact with Imananabaa on three occasions, carrying Lammas' mount towards the running rail.

Waddell told yesterday's hearing he regretted his reaction.

His employer, Matamata trainer John Sargent, asked the committee to take into account Waddell's good record and that the incident was out of character.

It was noted Waddell had been suspended for two months on a previous misconduct charge in Singapore last year.

But Waddell said it was an off-track incident and in nearly five years of riding there had been no other such incidents.

The judicial committee said there was no place in racing for Waddell's reaction but credited him with admitting the charge and said there were some mitigating circumstances.

"The serious nature can be balanced by adding a monetary penalty," the judicial committee's official statement said.

Waddell's suspension begins after today's racing at Te Aroha and is up to May 7. In addition to his $500 fine, he is to pay costs of $500.

Waddell has ridden 49 winners so far this season, including Bazelle in the group one $150,000 weight-for-age Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on December 26.

That tally puts him 10th on the jockey's premiership.

- NZPA