 Leading Melbourne apprentice Reece Wheeler has
been slapped with two suspensions after adjourned inquiries were completed yesterday.Wheeler was outed for his handling of Tina's Debut in the Kallista
Handicap at Sandown on January 16 as well as the ride on Transparent Lover in the
Greenwattle Sprint Handicap at Sale on February 6.
In the Sandown inquiry Stewards questioned Wheeler as well
as Wayne Davis, the rider of Bellered. Evidence was also taken from Wheeler's father and
master Geoff.
The apprentice was found guilty and charged with careless
riding "in that he permitted his mount to shift in near the 1400 metres when not
sufficiently clear of Yakama which clipped the heels of Tina's Debut and fell."
The ban for that suspension is due to start at midnight on
Sunday and conclude at midnight on March 5.
Davis, meanwhile was severely reprimanded for shifting in
at the same stage of the race when not clear of rival horses resulting in two horses being
hampered.
Wheeler's second suspension came after Stewards found him
guilty of careless riding aboard Transparent Lover at Sale on February 6.
The stewards' report noted that the young rider allowed his
mount to shift in near the 900 metre mark "when not sufficiently clear of Pugmoss,
resulting in that horse having to be checked and clipping the heels of Transparent Lover
and almost falling."
Evidence was again taken from Reece Wheeler and his father
Geoff before the sentence was revealed.
He was suspended from riding in races for a period to
commence at midnight on Sunday and expire at midnight on March 5.
PIC - Quentin
Lang. |
