Callum Shepherd has efficiently appealed in opposition to an 18-day ban imposed by the Kempton stewards final month.
Driving the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max in a seven-furlong handicap, Shepherd was judged to have failed “to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first” after Flavour Maker compelled a lifeless warmth on the road.
Shepherd “completely refuted” the allegation on the time, and contested that call earlier than the British Horseracing Authority’s unbiased panel on Tuesday morning.
Throughout a prolonged listening to, Shepherd argued he had not stopped using within the end, however had misplaced his stability when utilizing his whip for the ultimate time and got here up within the saddle with a view to get well his rhythm, insisting his mount had misplaced “no momentum whatsoever” within the course of.
He described it as “embarrassing to watch” and stated he “looked a mess” however had continued to trip as he tried to regain his traditional fashion.
“I look all over the place, it looks bad and I would be the first to say it but it is unusual and completely unintended,” he stated.
The panel agreed with Shepherd’s defence and quashed the penalty.
Panel chairperson HH James O’Mahony stated: “Whether or not there was an admitted or in fact a mistake is open to argument.
“We settle for the fact of life in sport and significantly in racing that issues occur very quick and if each time a jockey made an error of judgement there was to be listening to about it, then hearings would go on on daily basis and eternally. So it’s open to us to contemplate as we choose it the query of a suitable rationalization.
“We find on the balance of probabilities there was a loss of rhythm and an imbalance that had some causal connection with the appearance and the fact of Mr Shepherd rising as he did above the saddle in the closing strides, and we were able to say that on the most infinitesimal and minute observation of the footage any number of times, from all relevant angles and with close noting of specific times.
“We add that there was no obvious lack of momentum so far as the horse was involved and eventually we emphasise that this case is set by itself details and is by no means a precedent or a ruling on any matter of precept which will come up in future circumstances of this sort.
“The sanction is, of course, quashed.
“We add that within the time out there to the stewards after they made their determination, that they had nothing like the chance that we have now needed to study the proof in such element.”
