Spencer ban puts Yeats prep ride in doubt
It throws into doubt his chances of riding Vodafone Derby favourite Yeats when he has his final prep race for the Epsom Classic in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 8.
Spencer is already banned for UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket next Sunday, although he appeals against that suspension today.
And on Saturday he was hit with a four-day ban at Navan for careless riding, which means he will be out of action on May 3, 5, 6 and 7. There is no racing in Ireland on May 4.
He found himself in further hot water with the French authorities yesterday after Antonius Pius finished runner-up to Criquette Head-Maarek’s Classic hope American Post in the Prix de Fontainebleau.
His mount was found to have been the cause of scrimmaging inside the final furlong and was subsequently demoted to last of four, with Spencer handed a four-day ban.
He then picked up a two-day ban for his ride on Esperanto in the following Prix Greffuhle after causing interference as his mount occupied the runner-up position behind Head-Maarek’s Millemix.
Esperanto was put back to fifth.
The stewards in France said the two bans can run concurrently and insisted he will be on the sidelines on May 4, 5, 6 and 7.
That caused immediate confusion in Ireland as, if the weekend’s events had happened in reverse, one ban would have started after the other one had finished.
However, it was later thought by the Irish authorities that the French ban would in fact start on May 4 (the day there is no racing in Ireland) and continue on May 8, 9 and 10.
That would mean Spencer missing the ride on Yeats in his Derby prep race at Leopardstown.
He would, however, be back for the start of the Dante meeting at York, which gets under way on May 11.
But confusion was really the only certainty to come out of the day, and Irish Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said: “It will be tomorrow before we know for definite. Even the issue of the French bans being concurrent is not the way we work here.”
