from RACING POST HK (www.racing.scmp.com)Stewards yesterday laid down the law to jockeys with significant penalties for Jeff Lloyd and Terry Wong Chi-wai for faulty rides last Wednesday night at Happy Valley, but chief steward Kim Kelly denied "media pressure" had played any part. The Chinese media have recently been scathing in their criticism of some of Lloyd's riding, and the 49-year-old South African has been dealt a heavy one-two blow under separate rules in the past week, with a
from RACING POST HK (www.racing.scmp.com)
Stewards yesterday laid down the law to jockeys with significant penalties for Jeff Lloyd and Terry Wong Chi-wai for faulty rides last Wednesday night at Happy Valley, but chief steward Kim Kelly denied "media pressure" had played any part. The Chinese media have recently been scathing in their criticism of some of Lloyd's riding, and the 49-year-old South African has been dealt a heavy one-two blow under separate rules in the past week, with a nine-day ban coming on top of a two-day careless-riding suspension on the weekend. Wong was banned for 11 days.
"These charges are nothing to do with any media pressure," Kelly said flatly. "Both Jeff Lloyd and Terry Wong were charged on the specifics of a particular ride. If stewards ever were to react to any form of media comment like that it would be grossly unfair on the licence holders concerned. And it just won't happen."
Lloyd was charged under rule 99 (2), dealing with taking all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure Supreme De Union achieved his best placing in the fifth race last Wednesday, while Wong was penalised under the same rule for his display on New Glory in the eighth race.
For Lloyd, the crucial moment was soon after the start of his race when he did not cross to a two-wide position and that allowed Supreme Taiji (Weichong Marwing), who had missed the start, to catch up and drive through between Ever Beauty and Supreme De Union and keep Lloyd's mount wide.
In Wong's case, the issue was his riding at the top of the straight when he failed to go into an open run outside Good Words and instead steered New Glory back in behind that horse, who was weakening and took New Glory back through the field with him.
"The Licensing Committee last year informed Terry Wong that it viewed his race riding performance with concern and noted how often he had been spoken to about his handling of horses," Kelly said. "On the other hand, although the two cases came under the same charge, we did inform Jeff Lloyd that he was saved from a bigger penalty by his very good riding record over a long period of time."
Lloyd, who has ridden more than 4,300 winners in a career stretching back well over 30 years, has never been charged under this or any similar rule during his career and was reluctant to make any comment when contacted yesterday.