Hugh Bowman faces an anxious wait to find out if he can ride favourite Metal Bender in Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup.The top Sydney jockey had his appeal against an eight meeting ban for careless riding at the Gold Coast on May 8 dismissed by the Queensland racing appeals panel on Monday.The penalty would sideline Bowman until May 28 meaning he would miss the Doomben Cup mount aboard Metal Bender but return in time to partner Ortensia in the Doomben 10,000 on May 29.However, Bowman plans to l
Hugh Bowman faces an anxious wait to find out if he can ride favourite Metal Bender in Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup.
The top Sydney jockey had his appeal against an eight meeting ban for careless riding at the Gold Coast on May 8 dismissed by the Queensland racing appeals panel on Monday.
The penalty would sideline Bowman until May 28 meaning he would miss the Doomben Cup mount aboard Metal Bender but return in time to partner Ortensia in the Doomben 10,000 on May 29.
However, Bowman plans to lodge a further appeal to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and apply to ride under a stay of proceedings.
If that is granted and the appeal is unable to be heard until after the weekend, Bowman may be free to partner Metal Bender in the Doomben Cup.
But in a further twist, Queensland Racing's chief steward Wade Birch has indicated they will recommend Bowman not be granted a stay of proceedings, citing the fact Bowman originally pleaded guilty to the charge when evidence was taken on race day and that he has had an appeal heard and dismissed.
If QCAT do grant Bowman a stay of proceedings, Queensland Racing stewards will seek to have the appeal held before Saturday's race.