Stewards ignored compelling evidence from Michelle Payne in hammering Chad Schofield for improper riding at Mornington on Wednesday. Michelle defended Chad's riding, which the stewards said had affected her mount, but her evidence meant nought. 

Racing Network reports: Chad Schofield’s spring carnival took another diabolical turn for the worse on Wednesday when he was suspended for 32 meetings on an improper riding charge.

 Schofield cut a despondent figure as he left Mornington racecourse in the dark after a stewards' inquiry that lasted 90 minutes after the last race saw him suspended yet again.

 

He was non-committal about whether he would appeal the ban, which takes him out of the Manikato Stakes, Sir Rupert Clarke, Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and Blue Sapphire Stakes.

 

Schofield’s latest suspension — he’s only been back 10 days from a 27-meeting ban — expires on Caulfield Cup eve.

 

It is the 20th suspension that Schofield has incurred in the past 25 months.

 

The 20-year-old has missed more than 180 meetings during those periods of suspension, including a 27-meeting stretch on an improper riding charge from April 1, 2013.

 

Schofield told stewards he felt it was unfair to be charged with improper riding.

 

“Improper riding is pretty rough. Normally heavy contact is involved,” Schofield said.

 

“These bumps were minorish. Michelle Payne said no one, including her, was in danger.

 

“This time of year, I’ll miss everything.”

 

Schofield quoted Payne, who was involved in the incident that led to his suspension, as saying, “It happens in most races,” but maybe not to the extent of this incident.

 

Racing Victoria stewards, chaired by Brett Wright, found Schofield guilty of improper riding in that after passing the 1100 metres he turned the head of his horse, Saguaro, and made contact with Payne’s mount ,Something to Share.

 

Wright said that Schofield, who was racing three wide, bumped Payne’s mount heavily on two other occasions and forced her down to the fence while he occupied the position previously held by Something to Share.

 

He said the incident went on from the 1100 to the 850 metres.

 

Schofield reserved his plea and noted that Damien Oliver had employed similar tactics against him in an earlier race.

 

He repeatedly asked stewards to explain how the incidents differed.

 

RV chairman of stewards Terry Bailey, who was on the Mornington panel, told Schofield the difference there “no interference” in the Oliver incident that Schofield referred to.

 

Payne described the incident simply as “competitive riding” and added, “I would have done the same.”

 

“I thought it was just competitive riding. Chad was trying to give his horse every hope. 

 

“I was instructed to stay off the fence. It was a touch unlucky for Chad that I was instructed  to stay one off the fence.

 

“My horse is overracing and it makes it look worse than it felt.”