Corey takes the lash to RSPCA's credibility

MELBOURNE CUP-winning rider Corey Brown has taken the whip to the RSPCA, questioning its credibility, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. It says: The animal welfare group raised concerns about Brown striking Cup winner Shocking after passing the winning post at Flemington on Tuesday.Racing Victoria stewards summoned Brown to their room at Flemington yesterday before the first race on VRC Oaks day. Brown said he had just flicked his wrist in a celebratory gesture and did not believe there was eno

MELBOURNE CUP-winning rider Corey Brown has taken the whip to the RSPCA, questioning its credibility, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

It says: The animal welfare group raised concerns about Brown striking Cup winner Shocking after passing the winning post at Flemington on Tuesday.

Racing Victoria stewards summoned Brown to their room at Flemington yesterday before the first race on VRC Oaks day. Brown said he had just flicked his wrist in a celebratory gesture and did not believe there was enough evidence the whip made contact with the horse.

The Sydney jockey argued that if there was a hit it was unintentional. He said the video footage was inconclusive and any contact was ''not deliberate''.

If contact was made, it was only ever so ''slightly''. Brown explained that when the whip bent, he had flicked it. ''I don't believe I made contact with the horse,'' he said. ''I didn't want to hit the horse.''

Brown reserved his plea when charged with unnecessary use of the whip. Stewards found him guilty and fined him $500. Brown immediately went to the jockeys' room before returning with a statement.

''It's insulting to me personally that this story got any legs in the media,'' he said. ''The RSPCA really needs to take a good look at itself if this is the level of argument it going to run with.

''To be the key organisation representing the animal welfare in Australia and then to seek publicity based on rubbish ... to me it means the wider community should really question the RSPCA's credibility.'' Following Brown's first victory in the most prized race in Australia, which also earned him a 10-meeting suspension for causing interference to Cup favourite Alcopop and Kibbutz near the 1700 metres, the RSPCA again tore into the controversial whip issue.