Hugh Bowman lodges appeal against severity of suspension over Melbourne Cup ride

MELBOURNE Cup runner-up Hugh Bowman will appeal the severity of his hefty 35-meeting ban that provided a dramatic postscript to Tuesday’s $7.3 million race.

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MELBOURNE Cup runner-up Hugh Bowman will appeal the severity of his hefty 35-meeting ban that provided a dramatic postscript to Tuesday’s $7.3 million race.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matthew Hyland confirmed on Wednesday that Bowman will contest the penalty arising from three separate charges which have cost him the opportunity to chase back-to-back Japan Cups on Cheval Grand this month.

The ban also rules him out of Group 1 rides on Latrobe (Mackinnon Stakes) and Brave Smash (Darley Classic) on Saturday.

“He’s appealing the severity of the penalty,” Hyland told the Herald Sun. “We will wait for a date to be determined for when that is going to be heard.”

Hugh Bowman (right) finished a close second on Marmelo in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Bowman pleaded guilty to all charges late on Tuesday, but was shattered by the penalties handed down to him. He finished second in the Melbourne Cup on Marmelo, beaten a length by Kerrin McEvoy and Cross Counter.

He initially copped 41 meetings — 12 for careless riding, eight for being seven above the allowable whip limit of five before the last 100m, and 21 from weighing in 1kg overweight.

But stewards reduced the penalty to 35 meetings, which rules him out until early December.

Bowman’s agent, Bryan Haskins, said the jockey thought the suspension was “a little bit harsh”. “I think he said with the overweight thing, it was three times the normal suspension, so that’s the reason he thought he might have a crack.”

Chief steward Robert Cram said Bowman had no explanation for being an extra half-kilo over the allowable limit – which affords riders to be 500g over weight – when weighing back in after the Cup.

Hugh Bowman lines up before the Melbourne Cup.

In handing down the ban, Cram had affirmed to Bowman that his actions were unacceptable.

“We admire your horsemanship skills and ability to ride,” he said in the hearing. “However, to be in this situation is really not up to standard.”

Stewards metered out a total of $6500 in fines for whip use in the Melbourne Cup, with five jockeys penalised.

McEvoy was given a $3000 fine for using the whip on Cross Counter nine times in the last 400m. Asked on Wednesday about the whip fine, McEvoy explained: “It just happened.”

“I was a long way back and I gave my horse the opportunity to respond and I think I was three (strikes) over the allotted amount we were given.

“I cruised to victory over the last 100m. It’s something that’s monitored closely ... it’s my first breach in three years, so it’s something I keep a close eye on.

“The whip rule works well.”

Originally published as Hugh Bowman lodges appeal against severity of suspension over Melbourne Cup ride