SENIOR rider Steven King was last night considering lodging an appeal against a $5000 fine issued by stewards yesterday for failing to ride out his mount Gotta Take Care, who was narrowly beaten in the third race, reports the Sunday Age.It says: A bewildered King, 42, said after the penalty was handed down that he had never faced such a charge in his 25 years in the saddle and was unsure how to react.''I certainly don't think it cost him his chance to win and the sectionals [times] back that up,
SENIOR rider Steven King was last night considering lodging an appeal against a $5000 fine issued by stewards yesterday for failing to ride out his mount Gotta Take Care, who was narrowly beaten in the third race, reports the Sunday Age.
It says: A bewildered King, 42, said after the penalty was handed down that he had never faced such a charge in his 25 years in the saddle and was unsure how to react.
''I certainly don't think it cost him his chance to win and the sectionals [times] back that up,'' King said of Gotta Take Care, who was many lengths in front in the home straight before being nosed out by a late charging Wells.
In handing down the $5000 penalty, chief steward Terry Bailey said arguments could be mounted for whether King's lack of vigour in the final few strides of the 3000-metre race cost him the race he lost by a short half-head. ''Your action of failing to ride your horse out has caused debate as to whether it cost your mount the race, but it was a breach of the rule as you had an obligation to ride your horse out until the end of the race.''
King, who was stood down by the doctor after Gotta Take Care's race due to the flu, said he had ''wasted'' to ride Tokugawa at 54 kilograms and then endured a tough run on Gotta Take Care, who was clear on straightening for home before jockey and rider ''knocked up''. (www.theage.com.au)