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Racing NSW Stewards have concluded an inquiry opened at Lismore Turf Club on Thursday, 19 September 2019 after the running of Race 4 (Rousillon Handicap, 1516m).

Evidence was taken from jockey Ben Looker and trainer Daniel Bowen. Racing NSW Form & Betting Analyst, Daniel Stephenson, provided written evidence detailing the betting on the event.

Licensed jockey Ben Looker pleaded guilty to the following charge -

AR129(2) A rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.

The details of the charge being that when licensed jockey Ben Looker rode Malmoosa in Race 4 (Rousillon Handicap, 1516m) at Lismore Turf Club's race meeting conducted at Lismore Racecourse on Thursday, 19 September 2019, he did fail to take all reasonable and permissible measures on that mare throughout the said race to ensure that Malmoosa was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field, by reason of the following particulars;

1) From approximately the 200m to approximately the 50m, Ben Looker did fail to ride his mount with sufficient purpose & vigour in an endeavour to improve into running available between Cool Prince and Evopex where in the opinion of the Stewards it was reasonable and permissible for him to do so.

After considering a number of aggravating factors and mitigating factors, including that this is Mr Looker's first offence under this rule, Stewards considered the appropriate penalty be a suspension of his license to ride in races for a period of six weeks.

Appreciating Mr Looker pleaded guilty to the charge issued, Stewards reduced the period of suspension to a month. Stewards ordered that such penalty commence on Wednesday, 23 October 2019 and expire on Saturday, 23 November 2019, on which day he may ride.

Mr Looker was advised of his appeal rights.