KEY POINTS:
Top jockey Michael Walker has been suspended from riding for nearly a month after yesterday's Auckland Cup meeting.
At an adjourned inquiry yesterday into last Saturday's New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, Walker was suspended for seven race days following his ride aboard Stolen Thunder.
He had last Saturday picked up a suspension for five riding days from the end of racing yesterday for his ride aboard Clifton Prince in the Darley Plate.
With the additional suspension he will be out of action up to and including April 3.
At yesterday's inquiry, Walker was found to have allowed Stolen Thunder to shift inwards about 200m after the start, taking eventual winner Redoute's Dancer with him.
This action in turn caused tightening on other runners Veloce Bella and Porika Track.
It also checked several others behind, including second favourite Magic Cape.
The 12 race days of suspension means Walker, who only returned to race riding in early February following an injury break, will miss several major race days.
He is 10th in the jockeys' premiership.
- NZPA
