It’s been a tumultuous few days for jockey Jye McNeil, who was back in the thick of drama on Oaks Day on Thursday after copping a massive ban following the Melbourne Cup. McNeil was hit with an 18-meeting suspension for his ride on Valiant King in the Cup on Tuesday, after an incident at the 2500m mark.
Stewards ruled that McNeil interfered with Stephane Pasqier on Presage Nocturne and Blake Shinn on Vauban, declaring his actions to be “careless riding”. Under Australian racing rules, jockeys receive a heavier punishment for incidents that occur in Melbourne Cup week, and McNeil will have to sit out 18 meetings as a result.
Francesca Cumani (R) was quite critical of Jye McNeil’s protest (L). Image: Channel 9/Getty
Another quirk in the rules allows jockeys to decide when they serve suspensions. McNeil has opted to serve his ban from Friday November 7 until November 24, meaning he was free to ride on Crown Oaks Day on Thursday. But he was involved in more drama at Flemington on Thursday, copping criticism for a post-race protest in Race 7, as well as for his ride in the last.
McNeil, who was riding Akaysha in Race 7, lodged a protest after the race alleging that Point Barrow and Inkaruna both impeded his horse in the final 150 metres. There was initially a gap between the first and second finishers, which McNeil tried to burst through before it quickly closed.
Stewards deemed that Daniel Stackhouse on Point Barrow and Mark Zahra on Inkaruna did actually interfere with Akaysha, but it wasn’t enough to draw a penalty. Point Barrow was allowed to retain the victory, with Inkaruna second, Miss Freelove third and Akaysha fourth.
The gap that Jye McNeil tried to surge through quickly closed. Image: Channel 9
Francesca Cumani bemused by Jye McNeil protest
Speaking after the protest was dismissed, popular analyst Francesca Cumani was critical of McNeil’s attempt to have the result changed. “I’m not really sure what the case is here,” she said on Channel 9.
“I mean, horses don’t run in lanes. One drifted in and the other came in as well, and yes, there was a horse behind them, but to me the winning distance is enough to suggest…can you imagine first and second being thrown out and third winning the race? To me, the best horse won, and it didn’t massively inconvenience the horse objecting.”
Jye McNeil copped a massive ban for his ride on Valiant King in the Melbourne Cup. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images)
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Fellow racing expert David Gately also said there wasn’t much in it. “There was certainly a run there. Akaysha went for the run in between the two girls, Inkaruna certainly came out, Point Barrow looked to drift in a fraction, but nothing significant to my eye,” he said.
“It cost her (Akaysha) probably two lengths. Picked up, didn’t savage the line. I think that’s going to be the problem to uphold the case – you really have to get closer, I think, than a couple of lengths and really be finishing off [well] to make the umpires and stewards happy that she would have won the race.”
McNeil copped more criticism just moments later for his ride on Rey Magnerio. Many thought Rey Magnerio was the best horse in Race 9, and should have won comfortably. But it had to settle for third, and McNeil copped plenty of backlash online.
Strictly Business wins $1 million Crown Oaks
In the feature race, Irish jockey John Allen steered Strictly Business to victory in the $1 million Crown Oaks. Getta Good Feeling was the heavy pre-race favourite, but didn’t even place in the top four.
“It’s an outstanding win,” Gately said on Channel 9. “I mean, to do what she did in the lead-up … Where’s her ceiling? Today, she steps up to 2500m. It looked anyone’s race at the 200m but by the time they got to that mark, she was dominant there.”
Thomas Carberry and John Allen with connections after winning the Crown Oaks with Strictly Business. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images)