A lack of stamina counted against hot favourite Getta Good Feeling in Thursday’s Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Getta Good Feeling started as the $1.80 favourite for the 2500-metre classic. She settled in a midfield position and loomed up as a winning hope at the top of the straight, but was under pressure at the 300m and then peaked on her run 200m from home, eventually finishing sixth, some six lengths off winner Strictly Business.
“I had to peel a little but earlier than I wanted but still I was found wanting late,” Zahra said. “I think she probably didn’t stay the 2500m and two runs in five days on Good 3s probably paid a toll today.”
Zahra’s day was further soured due to him receiving a careless riding suspension aboard runner-up Inkaruna in the G3 Red Roses Stakes. While he survived a protest from Jye McNeil on fourth placegetter Akaysha, Zahra was suspended for 10 meetings. His penalty starts on November 9 and he can return to riding on November 19, thus ruling him out of the C.F. Orr Stakes meeting on November 15.
Zahra, who’s ridden six winners at Flemington this week, wasn’t the only jockey who copped a ban from the stewards on Oaks Day.
Nash Rawiller was charged with careless riding in the opening race on Junebug and was also hit with a 10-meeting ban from November 9 until he’s eligible to return on November 19.
Both Michael Dee and Damian Lane were found guilty of breaching the whip rules. Dee was penalised for his winning ride on Apulia in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes and was suspended for seven meetings, while he was also fined $2000. Dee’s suspension will begin on November 9 and end on November 14, allowing him to ride on Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield.
Lane’s suspension was also for his winning ride on Al Duca in the Good Friday Appeal Trophy. Like Dee, he was suspended for seven meetings from November 9 to 14 and fined $2000, meaning that he’ll be able to fulfill his commitments in Japan next weekend.