Callum Shepherd has questioned the decision to declare a dead heat in the last race at Kempton on Wednesday night, a call that has led to an 18-day suspension for the jockey.
Shepherd, who was riding Thorntonledale Max for trainer David Simcock in the seven-furlong handicap, was deemed to have failed to take all reasonable measures to secure a clear win after Flavour Maker, trained by Roger Varian, shared the first prize.
However, Shepherd disputes the dead-heat ruling and the subsequent suspension. Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, he said: “From what I’ve seen and from the views of others, it appears there was a clear gap between Flavour Maker and the finish line. We were clearly ahead at the line.”
“The best way to resolve this is to review the photo finish, which I believe shows an error was made and that we were the clear winners.”
Shepherd’s suspension from September 4-21 will affect his participation in key meetings, including the St Leger at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup.
He confirmed he plans to appeal the ban, stating: “I strongly deny the allegation that I didn’t give my horse the best chance. Regardless of the photo, I’m very upset by the accusation and will be challenging it.”