Three-day ban for 'Slicer'

Five-time champion jockey Trevor 'Slicer' Simpson was on Tuesday slapped with a three-day suspension by the stewards for careless riding aboard disqualified winner SUNSHINE CITY in the fifth race for the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres on Friday, November 11.

Simpson was penalised for causing interference to CASH TALKS at the 200-metre point, his mount holding on by a short head in an exciting three-way photo finish.

Following a stewards' inquiry, SUNSHINE CITY was disqualified and placed second for impeding CASH TALKS on the outside and the race awarded to CASH TALKS, ridden by veteran jockey Vassell Najair.

At the same hearing on Tuesday, jockey Andrew Nunes was suspended for four racedays for careless riding aboard THE DIVINE KING in the sixth race on Saturday, October 8, his mount causing interference to both RULE BY SECRECY and DUST ROCK in the vicinity of the half-mile.

Title-chasing jockeys Omar Walker and Shane Ellis were also summoned by the stewards for their riding of NIPHAL and MERU, respectively, in recent races. The stewards, however, accepted the explanation of Ellis, but Walker was severely cautioned for his riding.