Olivier Doleuze will consider appealing a two meeting suspension and HK$80,000 fine after stewards sustained a careless-riding charge against him in yesterday's feature race, the Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Although Doleuze pleaded not guilty and fought hard to defend himself against the charge, the panel of stipendiary stewards under chief stipe Jamie Stier found the charge proved.
Although the two-meeting suspension has been deferred until after Doleuze takes his ride on Balius in the Singapore Airlines International Cup on May 18, the Frenchman was far from happy with the outcome.
"I know when I have done something wrong and when I do, I admit it," Doleuze began. "But this is not right. I have done nothing wrong, but they have given me two days and HK$80,000."
The interference was certainly at the high end of the scale, with one of the main chances in the race, Win Practitioner, almost coming down and losing some eight lengths as he regained his balance. Cup runner-up Go Johnnie Go was also badly interfered with.
The suspension and big fine took the gloss of an otherwise enjoyable day for Doleuze, who rode two winners and the first, Good Partner, landing the plunge of the day in race five.
Trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung backed Good Partner up for a second time in the space of three days after his good run at Sha Tin on Thursday. Punters threw in for a big win on the smart galloper, and his price firmed from $85 to his final dividend of $36.50.
"Manfred has done a good job with this horse, he's had a few problems and isn't 100 per cent sound but he felt good today and was a bit too fit and strong on the day," Doleuze said.
"I don't think he'll have any problem coping now that he's back in Class Three. Today's win should be good for his confidence."
Doleuze's second win came for David Ferraris on Bear Macho in the Class Two Arculli Trophy on the all-weather track.
"We had to take our time early, that's how he likes to be ridden these days," the Frenchman explained. "At the top of the straight, I thought he might have too much to do but he kept coming bravely. Still, I didn't think we would win until the final 50 metres - that last part, he really flew."
But the HK$80,000 fine really hit home for the flamboyant Frenchman. "What this means is that I've ridden two winners, worked all day and did it for nothing," he concluded.
