Australian Racing Board (ARB) chairman Andrew Harding is standing by the new whip rules but has left the door open for the Australian Jockeys' Association (AJA) to discuss the controversial changes.The rules, which came into effect on August 1, include the stipulation that a jockey must not whip their mount in consecutive strides more than once over the final 200 metres of a race.The issue came to a head at Randwick last Saturday when apprentice Daniel Ganderton was penalised by stewards for bre

Australian Racing Board (ARB) chairman Andrew Harding is standing by the new whip rules but has left the door open for the Australian Jockeys' Association (AJA) to discuss the controversial changes.

The rules, which came into effect on August 1, include the stipulation that a jockey must not whip their mount in consecutive strides more than once over the final 200 metres of a race.

The issue came to a head at Randwick last Saturday when apprentice Daniel Ganderton was penalised by stewards for breaching the new whip rules aboard Deer Valley who won the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes by a half-head from Melito, whose jockey Corey Brown rode within the rules.

While Ganderton was stripped of his riding fee and his cut of the prizemoney, Deer Valley kept the race.

It has raised the question of whether riders will throw caution to the wind and breach the rules if it means winning a major race for connections, who may potentially compensate them financially.

Deer Valley's trainer Chris Waller said the owners of the filly planned to give Ganderton extra money for winning but stressed that was in line with the actions of many owners of Group winners.

"They're certainly not giving him a sling because he broke the rules, we don't agree on that," Waller said.

"Owners pay enough money in this game and if anyone thinks owners will be paying continuously for jockeys in this scenario they've got another thing coming."

Harding said he was aware of the conjecture but added the ARB had expected a transition period as jockeys became accustomed to the new rules.

"There is nothing so far that has come as a bombshell, that we didn't see coming," Harding said.

"There have been major changes and with it comes a period of adjustment.

"What has happened so far is in the category of what might reasonably have been expected."

Harding did confirm he spoke to AJA chief executive Paul Innes on Tuesday night about a possible meeting between their organisations.

"He said he may be interested in bringing some members in to speak to me and I said to him that if his members have something on their minds I want to hear it," Harding said.

Innes was at Canterbury on Wednesday and told jockeys the AJA would make a presentation to the ARB when it next meets on September 10 in an attempt to have the rules amended.

Innes labelled the new whip rules "an occupational health and safety issue", citing the fact jockeys were being asked to focus on how many strides their mounts had taken and how many times they had struck them with the whip while trying to concentrate on winning a race.

It is believed the AJA will propose jockeys be allowed unlimited use of the whip over the final 100m if their horse is in contention.

Meanwhile, chief stipe Ray Murrihy said stewards would interview jockey Peter Robl over comments attributed to him in Wednesday's Fairfax newspapers regarding the new whip rules.

Robl was quoted as saying he would "be doing everything I can to win the Golden Rose and if that means hitting more than the allowable three strides in succession, then I'll be doing it".

"We will certainly interview Peter Robl to ascertain whether that quote was correct and then take a look at the matter from that point," Murrihy said.

"I'd be disappointed if any licensed person said they were deliberately going to break a rule in the process of winning."

Stewards are yet to set a date for the interview with Robl.