JOCKEY Jackie C. K. Tse's appeal against a three-meeting ban for dropping his hands on a beaten horse was dismissed yesterday, paving the way for two good rides for Irish champion Mick Kinane at tonight's Happy Valley meeting.
Tse called top local jockey Tony Cruz as a witness along with Johnny K. S. Ho and trainer Tony P. H. Chan, but their evidence failed to influence the panel and the appeal was thrown out with Tse's deposit forfeited.
A grim-faced Tse left the Inquiry Room at Happy Valley refusing to comment on the decision.
There had been comment on the severity of the sentence but the Stipendiary Stewards are bound by existing guidelines to hand down a mandatory three-day ban and the talented local rider was unable to persuade the appeals board to lighten the ban.
Kinane now picks up the ride on topweight Fortune Ride in the third event at the city track, a Classes Three and Four, 2,230-metre race.
And he will also partner top chance Lucky Express in the fifth event where the main opposition in the Class Three, 1,650-metre race looks to be Perkyman.