To those who would destroy racing - suck it!
Kerrin McEvoy, Joao Moreira flout whip rules but escape fines
Seven jockeys who broke the contentious whip rules in the Melbourne Cup – including Kerrin McEvoy and Joao Moreira who waged a titanic struggle down the Flemington straight – were not fined or suspended due to a change in an interpretation of the regulations.
McEvoy and Moreira headed up a host of hoops who only received reprimands for using the whip more than five times prior to the 100-metre mark, but each escaped sanctions despite the high stakes on offer in the $6.2 million handicap.
Five of the seven jockeys who were hauled before stewards rode their mounts into money-spinning finishes including Michael Walker on Almoonqith (sixth), Pentathlon's rider Mark du Plessis (ninth) and Jamie Spencer on Big Orange (10th).
Oceanographer's hoop Chad Schofield (12th) and Stephen Baster on Secret Number (21st) were also cautioned.
Eyebrows were raised when none of them were penalised for breaches which were either one or two strikes more than permitted.
But Racing Victoria's chief steward Terry Bailey conceded a recent direction from Racing Australia allows flexibility in penalties if jockeys don't wield the whip excessively in the last 100 metres when their use is unrestricted.
"What we've been asked to do is take in the totality of whip use and whilst riders might be one or two over [the limit] their handling or use of the whip over the final 100 metres was reasonable in the context," Bailey said of the Melbourne Cup. "And that's the reason there weren't any fines imposed."
