SIMPSON
FIVE-TIME champion jockey, Trevor Simpson, has suffered a slight setback in his bid to regain the champion jockey title from Brian Harding.
He starts a two-day suspension tomorrow for careless riding aboard first race winner, SUN TANNED TOES in a circular nine race on Saturday, June 17.
Simpson, who for reasons unknown, did not ride on Saturday, was penalised by the stewards for causing interference to Brian Harding's mount LA PRESIDENTA in the vicinity of the round mile.
With the championship race developing into a real fight among the top four contenders - Harding, Simpson, Charles Hussey and Wesley Henry - Simpson can ill-afford suspensions for foul riding, as was the case last year when he relinquished his crown to Harding.
It was the general belief that suspensions, more than anything else, cost him the championship in 2005.
Meanwhile, jockey Oneil Mullings was last Tuesday cautioned by the stewards to exercise due care when leaving the starting gate, following the disqualification of his mount, CHAMPAGNE AND GOLD, in the seventh race over the straight on Saturday, June 24.
CHAMPAGNE AND GOLD passed the post third to TRUE SENSATION over the straight five course, but was disqualified following a stewards' inquiry and placed fifth for causing interference to both TRUE SENSATION and PRINCESSJACQUELINE when swerving right at the start. Mullings' explanation was accepted by the stewards.
