Prakash Gosavi gosavi@ mid- day. com Two top jockeys, Indian A Sandesh and Irishman Leigh Roche, have received severe punishments for u201c unsatisfactory ridingu201d. The Royal Western India Turf Club ( RW ITC) stewards, in a meeting on Sunday, barred both jockeys from riding for 12 race days from March 5 to April 12. Both jockeys were held guilty for their rides on the same card ( Saturday, February 1).
Sandesh copped punishment for his ride on favourite Noble Heir ( race # 115) who finished sixth in the Gateway Of India Million ( 1600m). The stipendiary stewards, after a detailed inquiry, had reported Sandesh to the stewards of the club only for u201c unsatisfactory ridingu201d, making it clear that they were giving him the benefit of doubt in the more serious charge of u201c not permitting his mount to run on its meritu201d. Eye on milestone Interestingly, on the fateful day, Sandesh, who was looking forward to achieve a career milestone of 1,000 wins during the Derby weekend, had ridden two back- to- back winners ( Tasman and Golden Era) in the first two races, giving him win numbers 998 and 999. Noble Heir trained by Vishal Gaekwad, was his mount in the third race, and it was widely expected that Sandesh would complete his 1,000 wins and hat- trick for the day astride the favourite.
However, Sandesh finally rode his 1,000th winner astride the Imtiaz Sait- trained Flying Visit the next day ( Sunday, February 2), and in an impromptu ceremony, was felicitated by the RW ITC management in front of the Derby crowd.
A vague reply The report published on the race clubu2019s website says: u201c When trainer Vishal Gaikwad was specifically asked during the Stewards Meeting whether he was satisfied with the jockeyu2019s [ Sandesh] riding, he initially tried to evade the question by giving a vague reply, and then agreed that the jockey could have been more aggressive to take the gaps.u201d The stewards felt that the jockey would not have ridden in this manner unless he had the traineru2019s tacit approval, and fined him a record sum of R 1 lakh.
Jockey Roche was also held guilty of unsatisfactory riding after it was established in the inquiry that he had failed to follow trainer P Shroffu2019s instructions while riding Valegro ( race # 117) in the Ebco Livsmart Million ( 1400m).
Shroff had complained about Rocheu2019s handling of Valegro after the race. Roche, 27, has been visiting India to ride for trainer Shroff for the last couple of seasons.
Both jockeys have the right to appeal against the decision with RW ITCu2019s board of appeal ( BoA).
Two jockeys suspended for unsatisfactory riding
