Jockey Kieren Fox has been handed a 10-day suspension after stewards ruled his mount was not a trier in a race at Wolverhampton on Tuesday evening.
The 37-year-old rode the Charlie Pike-trained 40-1 shot Missmisfortune to fourth place in the seven-furlong Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Novice Stakes, which featured nine runners.
Following an inquiry, Wolverhampton stewards concluded that Fox had not made sufficient effort from the two-furlong pole. They questioned the jockey over his riding inside the final furlong, noting he used his whip only once and appeared to ride "with a questionable level of vigour" towards the line.
Stewards' findings
Fox argued that he felt he was "at his strongest" during that stretch, while Pike's representative expressed satisfaction with the ride, describing Missmisfortune as a challenging ride.
Nevertheless, the stewards' report stated: "Fox was suspended for 10 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure his horse was run on its merits."
The report added that Fox had initially failed to put his mount in a position from where it could best mount a challenge, by not asking Missmisfortune to improve after taking her off the rail approaching the two-furlong marker, and then appeared to ride without sufficient vigour for periods in the home straight.
Ban dates and career record
Fox will serve the ban from October 27-31 and November 2-6. The jockey made a comeback in February following a six-year absence from racing and has recorded 238 British career victories, with 15 of those coming this year.
