APPRENTICE Samantha Clenton yesterday was suspended for one month following her ride on More Precise at Hawkesbury earlier in the month.
Racing NSW stewards found Clenton guilty of a charge under AR135(b) of having failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout that race to ensure More Precise was given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.
More Precise, after being caught three deep in a field of six for the first half of the race then eased back to the rear of the field, finished third.
Stewards outlined four areas of concern about the ride of Clenton, the leading apprentice in NSW who sits third of the State premiership behind James McDonald and Hugh Bowman.
They found Clenton failed in the run to the 1800m to establish a position one off the rail, which resulted in the favourite runner Pinot Gris obtaining a position one off and More Precise racing three wide.
They added between the 1800m and the 1600m when positioned in a forward three wide position outside Pinot Grisand some two lengths off the leader Sky Clip, and with the pace slower than average, she made no effort to hold a forward position or race outside the leader.
Stewards said near the 1600m, when the pace of the race was slower than average, she restrained More Precisewhen it was reasonable and permissible to maintain a position outside of Pinot Gris.
Approaching the 1000m when positioned three wide, stewards said Clinton restrained More Precise, which resulted in More Precise being taken four wide when Malibu Stacy improved to the inside of More Precise and shifted out, resulting in More Precise being positioned some seven lengths from the leader Sky Clip near the 800m.
After taking into account Clenton’s prior clear record, her inexperience as an apprentice jockey and the gravity of the offence stewards suspended her for one month.
Clenton’s suspension behind on January 7 and she can resume riding on February 7.