If finishing a narrow second in the Melbourne Cup wasn’t bad enough, Kerrin McEvoy’s afternoon got even worse in the stewards’ room.
Key points:
- Stewards have punished jockey Kerrin McEvoy for breaching whip rules in the closing stages of the Melbourne Cup on runner-up Tiger Moth
- He was fined $50,000 and suspended for 13-meetings, beginning after Thursday’s Oaks Day at Flemington
- McEvoy won previous Cups in 2000, 2016 and 2018 and missed out on a record-equalling fourth victory by less than half a length
The jockey was fined $50,000 and suspended for 13 meetings for breaching the whip rules on Tiger Moth, striking the horse 13 times before the 100m mark and 21 times in total.
The rules allow jockeys to use the whip five times before the 100m mark.
McEvoy pleaded guilty and will begin his penalty after he rides at the VRC Oaks meeting at Flemington on Thursday where his mounts include Tyche Goddess in the Group One race.
He will be free to return to the saddle on November 15, missing the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
McEvoy rode the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse, who was running in the Cup in only his fifth race.
Tiger Moth had to chase down the all-the-way leader, Twilight Payment, in the home straight.
McEvoy’s horse was still two lengths behind at the 200m mark.
When they came to the clock tower at the 150m mark, Tiger Moth was still a length behind as McEvoy urged the horse along — it continued to close on the leader, but finished 0.4 lengths behind in second place.
McEvoy, from Streaky Bay in South Australia, was attempting to equal the record for most Cup wins by a jockey.
McEvoy had previously won on Brew in 2000, on Almandin in 2016 and on Cross Counter in 2018.
The record is held by Bobby Lewis and Harry White, who both won four Cups.
AAP/ABC
