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.