Ryan Moore loses appeal against £16,000 Breeders’ Cup fine and ban

16 February 2024 , 10:28

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Ryan Moore (right) breached the whip strike limit at Santa Anita (Image: AP)

Ryan Moore has lost an appeal against a record fine for breaching the whip rules on what was hailed as one of his greatest rides.

The world number one drew universal praise for the way his performance in steering Auguste Rodin to victory in the £3.2million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November last year.

He extricated last year’s Derby winner, who was boxed in with nowhere to go approaching the stretch, from a hopeless position to thread a path up the rail and land the US’s richest turf race at Santa Anita.

Auguste Rodin’s trainer Aidan O’Brien lauded Moore for his “brilliant ride” to get the colt home in front by three quarters of a length.

Local stewards had a different take on the display and found that Moore had breached the whip rules.

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They ruled Moore had struck Auguste Rodin seven times, one more than the whip stroke limit set by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

He was fined £16,200, the biggest ever handed out in California history which represents ten percent of Moore’s share of prize-money. and given a one day ban.

Moore lodged an appeal against the punishment but it was denied by HISA and the original ruling confirmed. He will serve the ban on Sunday.

Jon Lees