Victorian jockey Noel Callow in hot water with stewards

Victorian jockey Noel Callow has been charged by stewards who allege he failed to give one of his mounts every chance to finish in its best possible placing

Noel Callow could have case to answer. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Victorian jockey Noel Callow is in hot water with stewards, charged by the stipes for failing to give a horse he rode every chance to finish in its best possible placing.

Stewards issued a charge against Callow following an inquiry into his ride on Grand Pope in a three-year-old Maiden Plate at Benalla on Friday 25 September 2020.

The Nick Ryan-trained galloper was the well-backed $3.10 favourite but finished 10th and was beaten more than five lengths.

“Mr Callow has been issued one charge under AR 129(2) which states that a rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field,” a Racing Victoria stewards’ report reads.

“The stewards allege that when approaching and passing the 300m for at least seven strides (or approximately 50m), Mr Callow failed to improve his position between Ranceski and Granturismo when there was sufficient room to do so and when it was reasonable and permissible to do so.

“The stewards also allege that from near the 120m, when a run presented between Ranceski and Granturismo, Mr Callow failed to ride Grand Pope with sufficient vigour and purpose to the end of the Race, where it was reasonable and permissible for him to do so.”

The charge will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

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Originally published as Victorian jockey Noel Callow in hot water with stewards