Jockey Lance O'Sullivan's Hong Kong career ended on a bitter note yesterday when he lost an appeal against an 11-meeting suspension.
But the bitterly upset New Zealand ace countered the decision, saying: 'I wonder if I'm taking the brunt for the Benji controversy.' The multiple champion jockey of his home country lost his deposit and his licence until the end of the present season after a two-hour hearing.
O'Sullivan, retained this season by trainer Lawrie Fownes, had been banned under Rule 131 (ii) for his ride on Sky Coast at Happy Valley on April 10.
That rule states that a jockey shall take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout a race to ensure his horse is given a full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing.
The talented rider left after the appeal hearing through a back door at the Sports Road headquarters but said later: 'I'm definitely innocent and I know that 99 per cent of people out there agree with me. I'm very, very disappointed it has gone this way. But I wonder if I'm taking the brunt for the Benji controversy.' The controversial Benji case centred around the first run of the then David Oughton-trained youngster that finished an eye-catching fifth to Money Horse in a Sha Tin race.
Explanations from connections regarding the running and riding of the horse were accepted but comment in print, on television and within the Jockey Club raged for days and did not reflect favourably on the decision of the stewards to take no action with regard to the ride.
Benji, who was reported lame after the debut run, came out as an odds-on favourite on Sunday and won by seven lengths for new trainer Patrick Biancone and jockey Eric Legrix.
