Respected Queensland jockey Michael Cahill cops four-week ban in horror watch

A multiple Group 1-winning jockey has been banned by stewards for four weeks for not riding a horse out at Doomben.

Stradbroke Handicap-winning jockey Michael Cahill has copped a four-week ban from Brisbane stewards who allege his failure to ride Aitutaki out at Doomben cost the horse the win.

Five-time Group 1 winner Cahill, who won the 2005 Stradbroke on St Basil, came to the attention of stewards after Aitutaki was narrowly run down in the final strides of a 1350m race on Wednesday.

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Stewards found Cahill had eased his riding vigour about 40m before the finishing post, costing Peter Quinlan-trained Aitutaki the win as Chris Waller’s galloper Hatasu nabbed a last-gasp victory.

Hatasu for @mallyon_andrew and @cwallerracing gets there - just - in the Sky Racing Hcp at Doomben! 😮@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/1x1Pg3V7a8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2024

“Jockey M. Cahill was found guilty of a charge pursuant to AR 131(b) for failing to ride his mount out to the end of the race and/or approaching the end of the race,” the stewards’ report into the incident read.

“The particulars being, when leading the event and approximately 40 meters from the winning post, Jockey M. Cahill as the rider of Aitutaki, altered his riding vigour for 1.5 to 2 strides which in the opinion of stewards, compromised his mount from finishing in first place, when considering the short head margin, or numerical margin of 0.08 lengths.”

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Stewards left little doubt that they felt that Cahill’s actions had cost Aitutaki the win and that the incident had denied connections an extra $14,200 in prizemoney.

“Stewards, after hearing submissions on penalty and considering penalty precedents, which included a recent breach under this rule by jockey M. Cahill at Lismore on the 26/7/2024, took into account the status of the race, that being a midweek metropolitan meeting, as well as wagering implications and prizemoney ($14,200) lost by connections,” the stewards’ report read.

“Jockey M. Cahill’s license to ride in races was suspended for four weeks commencing midnight 21/9/2024 up to and including midnight 19/10/2024.”

When contacted about the incident by Racenet, Cahill declined to comment.

Aitutaki had started as a well supported $6 chance while the winner Hatasu eased from $12 to $17.

Originally published as Respected Queensland jockey Michael Cahill cops four-week ban in horror watch