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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Beadman rues whip charge...but Luke smiles at Canterbury
Posted @ 07:06:00 EST
DARREN Beadman kicked off a succession of firsts when he was outed for excessive use of the whip at Ascot in England at the weekend, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

It says: It was a happier first at Canterbury yesterday for lanky bush apprentice Luke Morgan, who rode his maiden city winner, and a bizarre first when barrier rogue Monty's Boy hit the starter's button and released the field in the final race.

Beadman had never been charged with a breach of the excessive use rule before, but UK stewards suspended the record-making jockey for seven days.

"It's just another splinter in the bum as you slide down the bannister of life," Beadman quipped yesterday. "As I said, I never hit the horse with full force, I just kept it going. I was under the impression when a horse is working home, continuing to make ground, you could ride them along."

Beadman revealed his mount, Pentecost, was struck 20 times between the 500 metres and winning post, with the galloper nabbing third place on the line. "They said 14 hits was deemed the right number," Beadman said. "The horse came from near last and just kept on coming."