Advertisement
Advertisement

Beadman's joy comes with penalty

Murray Bell

Darren Beadman won two races, lost a protest, landed his first Jockey Challenge and was suspended for careless riding in an action-packed day at the track.

Beadman won the opener on favourite Sou Ma Tam ($27) for Caspar Fownes, and later completed a double for the reigning premier handler with Whiplash ($37). But not everything went according to script.

In the ninth event, the Long Ke Handicap, Beadman finished second on the David Hall-trained Ankh Morpork, but found himself the focal point of a protest from Zac Purton, from fourth placed Rocket Force, for interference halfway up the straight.

When Beadman moved Ankh Morpork into a gap inside the 300m, he caused interference to Rocket Force who, by the time he regained his balance, was conceding three lengths to Beadman's mount before reducing that margin to slightly less than 11/2 at the finish.

Stewards wasted little time in declaring Purton's objection sustained and relegating Ankh Morpork from second to fourth. The final placings were Triumphant Diamond first, The Goodies second, Rocket Force third and Ankh Morpork fourth.

The stewards hadn't finished with Beadman, however. They charged him with careless riding and ultimately found against the seven-times Sydney champion, despite his not-guilty plea.

Beadman has been suspended for two days and fined HK$40,000 in lieu of one extra day. He will ride on Wednesday and Sunday before missing the June 18 and 22 meetings.

Beadman said there had been significant 'horse error' in the equation, with Ankh Morpork shifting 'about half a horse' more than he intended, and Rocket Force, in turn, overreacting to the situation due to his greenness and inexperience.

Purton, however, was hopping mad about the one injustice the stewards could not resolve.

'I should have won the Jockey Challenge, I've been a good thing beaten,' Purton lamented.

'Without the interference, I have no doubt I win the race, no doubt at all. I've been beaten three points by Darren for the Jockey Challenge. If Rocket Force runs second, we dead-heat, but if Rocket Force wins, then I take the challenge.

'The protest might have been upheld, but the punters who backed me in the Jockey Challenge have been robbed,' he said.

Post