Shiers banned from Cup after positive test

PAUL Shiers has enjoyed plenty of success on Darwin Cup Day in the past, but he is unlikely to remember yesterday with fondness.

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

PAUL Shiers has enjoyed plenty of success on Darwin Cup Day in the past, but he is unlikely to remember yesterday with fondness.

Shiers was banned from fulfilling his six rides when he returned a positive breath test upon arriving at Fannie Bay.

Darwin Turf Club stewards tested all jockeys when they arrived at the track and an element of shock engulfed the track when it was confirmed that Shiers could not ride.

Shiers exceeded the 0.02 limit after providing two samples for stewards.

The first test took place at 11.22am — 48 minutes before the first race on the program.

It proved positive before Shiers had another test, which was taken 10 minutes later. When that too proved positive, the jockey was immediately stood down and subsequently charged.

David Hensler, the chairman of DTC stewards, said that the matter will be dealt with later in the week.

“Paul was clearly upset and remorseful, and he was not in the right frame of mind when we advised him that he couldn’t ride,” Hensler said.

“He understood the gravity of the situation and will appear before the stewards at a later date where a penalty will be imposed.”

Darwin trainer Gary Clarke, who has enjoyed a long and successful association with Shiers, was advised of the drama when he arrived at the track.

“Like everyone else, I was stunned when I heard the news,” Clarke said.

“I did catch up with Paul, he was shattered and offered me his apology.”

Of the half a dozen rides Shiers forfeited, two ended up winning their respective race.

Valid (Jarrod Todd) took out the first with Corstons Beau (Kim Gladwin) taking out the feature sprint race on Day 8 of the Darwin Cup Carnival. Both horses are trained by Clarke.

It was always going to be a drama charged day for Clarke stable following the death of stable jockey Simone Montgomerie on Darwin Cup Day last year.

The Shiers incident is something Clarke didn’t need.

Clarke’s emotions were tested even further yesterday when Corstons Beau took out the $35,000 Wolf Blass “Montgomerie” Lightning Plate (1100m). Second-placed Jacopo (Richie Oakford) made it a Clarke quinella.

The race has been named in honour of Simone Montgomerie, who claimed the Darwin jockeys premiership for the 2012-13 season. She was the first female to win the top title before her shock death during last year’s Darwin Cup Day program.