Pat Cosgrave’s appeal against his six-month suspension for improper riding will be held at the offices of the Emirates Racing Authority at 10am on Monday.
Cosgrave was handed the ban after he came off the rail on Anaerobio in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse last month.
The jockey appeared to look around at least three times before allowing his mount to drift from the rail, a move which allowed his stablemate Vercingetorix an easy run through on his way to a two-length success.
Anaerobio finished third on his first start in an international Group 1 before he was four lengths behind the same rival when the pair ran second and fifth three weeks later in the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night.
Cosgrave’s ban has been reciprocated worldwide. Vercingetorix arrived with World Cup seventh Sanshaawes in Hong Kong on Monday ahead of their intended engagement in Sunday’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin.
The two horses appeared on the track yesterday morning after clearing quarantine for a light workout on the all-weather track under the supervision of Trevor Brown, Mike de Kock’s assistant trainer.
“Both horses travelled very well,” Brown said. “They’ve arrived safe and sound and just needed a stretch of the legs this morning. It’s all good at the moment. No issues.”
Christophe Soumillon rode both horses during the Dubai World Cup Carnival but is unavailable. Anthony Delpech will ride Vercingetorix after the duo were successful in the Grade 1 Daily News at Greyville last year, while Olivier Doleuze will partner Sanshaawes.
Hong Kong’s Amber Sky and Sterling City, respectively winners of the Al Quoz Sprint and Dubai Golden Shaheen last month, were among a six-strong entry from the Special Administrative Region to Royal Ascot yesterday.
Amber Sky is considered an unlikely runner at the June festival but could contest the King’s Stand Stakes, while Sterling City is entered in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE