Pat Cosgrave gets a breather
Pat Cosgrave has been cleared to return to the saddle pending his appeal to the British Horseracing Authority not to reciprocate the four-month ban handed out by the Emirates Racing Authority.
Cosgrave was found guilty of a blatant breach of the rule regarding improper riding which has a detrimental image to racing following his performance on the Mike de Kock-trained Anaerobio at Meydan in March.
The jockey was found to have moved his mount off the rail in the straight to allow stablemate Vercingetorix through on the inside to win the Group One Jebel Hatta, with Anaerobio eventually third.
Cosgrave was initially banned for six months by the ERA but that was reduced to four months following an appeal.
However, Cosgrave has asked the BHA not to impose the suspension in Britain and will be free to ride until his appeal is heard.
The BHA tweeted: “The Disciplinary Panel have directed that the penalty imposed on Pat Cosgrave by ERA should not apply in Britain for two weeks, or until non-reciprocation application is heard, whichever is first.
“Cosgrave is subsequently free to ride in Britain as of [Wednesday]. If a hearing cannot be arranged within two weeks [May 20] then it will be necessary to decide if further stay of ERA penalty is justified
