Racing
JMac suspended at Rosehill but free to ride in Randwick Guineas
Champion jockey James McDonald won't miss a Group 1 meeting despite being hit with a riding suspension at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday.
Racing NSW stewards issued a three-meeting suspension to James McDonald after he pleaded guilty to weighing in 1kg overweight when riding Almaaz into a close second placing in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap.
McDonald even fired in a protest alleging interference against the winner Fireball Miss only for that objection to be dismissed.
But Racing NSW acting chief steward Steve Railton then questioned McDonald after the Rosehill closer about being overweight for the Almaaz ride.
McDonald said he has never been penalised for a similar offence during his 20-year riding career.
Railton said due to the narrow losing margin, stewards determined the appropriate penalty would be to issue a three-meeting suspension that starts after the jockey rides Romantic Warrior in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
McDonald's penalty period rules him out of race meetings at Kembla Grange (Tuesday), Warwick Farm (Wednesday) and Newcastle (Friday) but he is free to return to race riding for the Randwick Guineas meeting on March 7.
It was a relieved McDonald who left the course knowing he was still free to ride next week where his likely mounts include Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, Joliestar in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and Hidrix in the Group 2 Todman Stakes.
