BYRNE BANNED FOR 12 MEETINGS

Jockey Jim Byrne suspended

Byrne’s only ride for the day was on the Blue Diamond Stakes card where careless riding led to the jockey being suspended.

The queensland hoop had traveled down from Brisbane with the Tony Gollan trained Jonker to compete in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate which was won by race favourite Marabi.

Jonker, who was coming into the Group 1 contest off the back of a previous win in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes but blew badly in the betting drifting from $12 to $26 in the betting and then failing to beat any other runner home.

Byrne was charged with careless riding after permitting his mount to shift in at the 800m when not sufficiently clear of General Beau who was racing forward of midfield.

Matthew Cartwright was forced to steady General Beau, who then made contact with Minhaaj on his inside.

The O’Shea-trained filly copped a slight bump and became unbalanced close to the inside running rail.

As a result of the interference Byrne had his racing license suspended for 12 meetings which will come into effect on the 5th March and finish on the 12th March.

Byrne blamed the tempo of the race for Jonker’s underwhelming performance.

“He was a little bit below his best. He never really traveled and the tempo was too quick for him.”

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