Racing: Eynon suspended for three riding days

Rider Richard Eynon was suspended for three riding days and fined $500 following the relegation of his mount Solid Steal from first to second in the Great Northern Hurdles on Saturday.

Eynon admitted allowing Solid Steal to shift out in the closing stages, forcing Mount Sinai over extra ground.

The protest was instigated by stipendiary steward Alan Coles after Solid Steal was first past the post by half a length from Mount Sinai (Shelley Houston). The judicial committee considered the interference was sufficient to change the placings.

Eynon was suspended from the conclusion of racing on September 22 until midnight on September 26, the day of the National jumps meeting at Trentham.

Mount Sinai is owned and trained by Ann Browne, who won the Northern Hurdles in 2001 with Smart Hunter, 2000 with Gold Story and 1996 with Salezaar in partnership with her late husband, Ken.

Majestic Blaze was relegated from first to second behind Serpente in the 1993 Northern Hurdles after being first past the post by half a head.

Majestic Blaze, ridden by co-trainer Rick Cassidy, was deemed to have caused interference after the last fence.

The 1976 Northern, won by Thun (Michael Gillies) by a length and a-half from Owhata Chief, was also the subject of judicial proceedings. A protest by the connections of Ohwata Chief was dismissed on the day.

An appeal to the district committee was upheld but that was reversed after an appeal to the New Zealand Racing Conference by the connections of Thun.

Daniel Stackhouse and Danielle Johnson were unable to attend the Auckland meeting through Christchurch airport being closed due to the earthquake. David Walsh and Chris Johnson missed the Wanganui meeting.

Sam Spratt and Mark Du Plessis did not ride at Paeroa yesterday. Spratt was feeling the effects of a fall from Alvesta after race 1 at Wanganui. She rode Fiddler to win the Wanganui Guineas later in the day.

Du Plessis had a fall in race 9. He had a sore neck yesterday.

Spratt and Du Plessis are expected to ride at Taupo on Wednesday.