In Brief
- Newitt appeals against careless riding charge and penalty.
- Darmanin riding on a stay of proceedings till mid-March.
- Pires penalty reduced to free him up to ride on Launceston Cup Day.
Premier jockey Craig Newitt has lodged an appeal against his two-meeting suspension incurred in Launceston last Wednesday night that has threatened to deprive him of plum rides in two states in the coming fortnight.
Newitt was charged with careless riding by stewards for allowing his mount Border Protection to shift in at the 300-metre mark when not fully clear of Worthy Opponent that subsequently was severely checked and blundered as a result of the interference.
Stewards rated the interference in the high range and that the carelessness was in the mid-to low range.
Newitt lodged his appeal last Friday and he is hoping for a stay of proceedings that would allow him the freedom to ride Free of Debt in Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and at the Tasmanian Oaks and Magic Millions meeting in Launceston the following day.
A stay of proceedings could also allow him to take the sit on the Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn-trained Exoteric in the Launceston Cup on Wednesday week and take the ride on Deroche in the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos Stakes.
“I lodged the appeal against the charge and penalty on Friday, so I expect to hear today whether or not I have been granted a stay of proceedings,” Newitt said.
David Pires has had his appeal against the severity of a two-meeting suspension upheld, with the suspension reduced to one meeting which will now see him ride Settler’s Stone in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup.
The multiple premiership-winning rider had been riding on a stay of proceedings since he was pinged for careless riding by stewards at a meeting in Launceston on 29 January.
He will miss this Sunday’s Oaks and Magic Millions meeting but he has some quality rides on Launceston Cup day.
Hobart Cup-winning rider Anthony Darmanin also is riding on a stay of proceedings after appealing against a one-meeting ban he incurred for careless riding at the Tasmanian Derby meeting last Saturday week.
Darmanin’s appeal and subsequent stay of proceedings allowed him the opportunity to continue riding and he won the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup aboard Toorak Affair.
If the mare is successful in Launceston, she will take out the Ladbrokes Cups Double Bonus of $100,000, which is shared equally between trainer and owner.
Darmanin’s appeal is not expected to be heard until 16 March.
Watch the video replay of race nine in Launceston last Wednesday which resulted in the suspension for Newitt.