Banned Darwin jockey Paul Shiers to learn fate on Wednesday

BANNED Darwin jockey Paul Shiers will know the suspension he will serve on Wednesday.

Colemans Printing Cup. Race winner Aberrant's Jockey Paul Shiers.

BANNED Darwin jockey Paul Shiers will know the suspension he will serve on Wednesday.

Shiers was banned from all six of his rides on Cup Day after returning a positive breath test when he arrived at Fannie Bay on Monday.

The Darwin Turf Club stewards, under the chairmanship of David Hensler, will meet at 11am to discuss the size of the suspension to be handed to Shiers, one of the Top End’s leading hoops. Shiers is facing a lengthy out, perhaps as much as five meetings, after he exceeded the 0.02 limit after providing two samples for stewards.

The first test took place at 11.22am on Monday, 48 minutes before the first race in which he was scheduled to ride hot favourite and eventual winner Valid.

A second test, 10 minutes after the first, also proved positive, forcing stewards to stand down the jockey. While a five meetings ban for Shiers looks on paper to be substantial, ironically it is this time of the year, after the Carnival, that the experienced jockey’s riding commitments slow down as he traditionally struggles with his weight.

Of more concern for the popular jockey will be the lost winnings, believed to be close to $4000, he missed out on.

Darwin Premiership-winning trainer Gary Clarke expressed his sadness at what happened.

“I felt sorry for Paul but disappointed as well,” Clarke said.

He said replacement rider Richie Oakford gave Lightinthenite every opportunity in the Cup.

Lightinthenite finished third behind Pretty Blonde and winner Saturday Sorcerer.

“It was a 10 out of 10 ride by Richie,” Clarke said.

“He must have got a clod (of dirt) in the eye mid race because this morning he had a bung eye.”

He said Lightinthenite is likely to head to Adelaide with his high rating.

Of all the 12 winners the master trainer enjoyed in the Carnival, he believes the performance of Corstons Beau in winning the Wolf Blass “Montgomerie” Lighting Plate over 1100 metres was the icing on the cake.

“It was a big, emotional day,” Clarke said.

“It was a big thrill, one that I was not expecting to win. Maybe we had a bit of help from above.”

Corstons Beau is likely to go to the paddock before Clarke adopts a similar preparation for the five-year-old gelding.