Premier hoop James McDonald had his whip infraction ban trimmed successfully on appeal, permitting rides at Rosehill’s Silver Slipper meet.
A 10-day suspension plus $20,000 fine came from Racing NSW stewards for McDonald’s whip excess aboard Chris Waller’s Fireball in Randwick’s $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) this past Saturday.
Findings revealed nine whip applications before 100m, breaching the Australian Rules of Racing by four, with 20 uses altogether.
McDonald indicated surprise with the punishment in the on-track stewards’ session, terming it “harsh”, and followed up with an appeal to the Racing NSW Appeals Panel held Wednesday.
Nearing two hours, the case saw stewards stress the misuse on a raw, inexperienced galloper.
The Panel, after discussion, reduced the time out to six days and hiked the penalty to $40,000.
The dominant Sydney jockey remains eligible for Rosehill’s prominent Silver Slipper and Hobartville Stakes on February 21, facing no Saturday city blackouts.
Head to Australian betting sites for the race’s betting markets for the race.
The post James McDonald free to ride on Silver Slipper Day first appeared on Just Horse Racing.