Elione Chaves, who on Saturday rode Great Wish home first in the Zawawi Sprint Cup (L) on Klampenborg’s Derby Day, has been handed a 22-day suspension for excessive use of the whip in Friday’s King George Qatar Stakes (Gr.2) at Goodwood.
“In England you are permitted to use the whip six times in total. In a tight finish I became too focused on my riding and my position, and I used the whip twice too often on Lamborghini BF,” Chaves told GalopSport on Wednesday morning.
“I was called before the stewards at Goodwood and informed of the offence, and yesterday I received an email confirming the 22-day suspension, which runs from August 18 to September 8.”
In practice, the ban means Chaves stands to miss nine racedays at the Scandinavian tracks during that period – among them Norwegian Derby Day, Breeders’ day in Stockholm and Oaks Day at Klampenborg.
“I have spoken to my colleague and countryman Silvestre de Sousa, who has advised me to apply for a dispensation to be allowed to ride on the big racedays in exchange for a longer suspension. I am looking into this with help from Svensk Galopp, and then we will see what happens.”
“If the dispensation is not granted, I will focus on keeping myself in top shape during the suspension and being 100% ready for Stockholm Cup day,” Elione Chaves concludes.
