Felix Coetzee has appealed against the suspension he incurred at Sha Tin last Sunday and has been given a stay of proceedings pending that appeal.
The stay, announced late yesterday by Jockey Club racing secretary Marco Cheng, will now enable Coetzee to ride at Saturday's Sha Tin fixture, where he stood to lose the mount on powerful stayer Super Combed in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m).
Coetzee, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of careless riding on Southern Light in the second race last weekend, has two days in which to lodge the grounds of his appeal. No date has been set for the hearing, but a spokesman for stipendiary stewards said it was 'most likely' to be set down for late next week.
There was a risk, however small, in Coetzee lodging this appeal. In the unlikely event of the stewards hearing his case earlier in the week, and finding against him, Coetzee would then be forced to surrender the ride on champion Silent Witness in the Group One Champions Mile on May 14. But a hearing on or after next Thursday would be safe.
Coetzee has ridden Silent Witness in every one of his 17 wins, and every barrier trial as well. Theirs is already one of the strongest partnerships in racing history.
Coetzee was suspended for two days, and fined $80,000 in lieu of an additional two days, for permitting Southern Light to shift in 200 metres after the start when not clear of Gifted Runner (Oscar Chavez), causing that horse to be crowded for room, lose its rightful running and be steadied.
