Reigning Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra has been handed a long suspension over a fall that hospitalised a fellow rider.
The veteran hoop was on Monday whacked with a 36-meeting ban by Racing Victoria stewards, which will end on May 1.
Zahra, 40, pleaded guilty to careless riding during the Australian Guineas feature race at Flemington on March 4.
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Stewards determined he “persisted in taking a run” on his mount, Holymanz, through a small gap which caused significant contact with Maximillius, ridden by young jockey Ethan Brown.
As a result of Zahra’s decision, Maximillius fell badly and threw Brown, who was then rolled on. Holymanz also fell, but Zahra was able to walk away unscathed and continued to ride that day.
“Mark Zahra’s riding also resulted in his mount Holymanz becoming severely unbalanced and brought down over the fallen Maximillius,” the stewards report said.
Brown was rushed to hospital and underwent several operations for internal injuries. He is yet to return to work.
The stewards hearing was delayed because Brown had not been able to give a statement until late last week.
Zahra won last year’s Melbourne Cup aboard Gold Trip.
Fellow veteran rider Blake Shinn was found guilty of careless riding from the same incident, and he has been suspended for 10 meetings, which will end on April 14.
Stewards found Shinn “permitted (his horse) Elliptical to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Amenable, thereby taking Amenable in off its course and being severely unbalanced when tightened for room onto Maximillius”.
Both Zahra and Shinn could choose to appeal the suspensions.
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