For breaching whip rules excessively on Fireball at the Inglis Millennium, James McDonald has drawn a ban and fine excluding him from the Silver Slipper meet.
The premier rider was adjudged to have swung the whip nine instances shy of the 100m—four excess to Australian Rules of Racing allowances—and 20 times completely.
Saturday’s inquiry at Randwick saw Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon apply a 10-day jockey suspension and $20,000 fine, taking note of McDonald’s strong compliance recently with the rule but pointing to the $2 million stakes race setting.
McDonald registered his dissatisfaction to the stewards about the measure’s toughness, referring to it as “harsh”.
His docket for Randwick next Saturday boasts rides like budding sensation Autumn Glow in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) before the suspension activates, lapsing February 25.
Among absences are the Silver Slipper (1100m), prime lead-in for the Golden Slipper (1200m), the Hobartville Stakes, and Millie Fox Stakes (1200m). Explore the betting markets for the race ahead of the Silver Slipper.
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