Tom Sherry cops big ban after Up And Coming victory on Grand Prairie was marred by fall

Rival jockey Dylan Gibbons hit the turf when his mount Tyreek was put through the inside running rail at the 250m mark in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m).

Tyreek copped a heavy check from Providence, which was racing to his outside, however stewards ruled Sherry’s mount being angled in caused the incident.

Tyreek suffered a serious leg injury in the fall and was euthanised.

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Gibbons was treated by paramedics on track but was able to walk away from the incident.

He was fit enough to give evidence at a subsequent Stewards inquiry that took place over multiple races.

“Quickly horses come across me and next thing my horse was through the running rail,” he said.

Rival jockeys Tom Sherry and James McDonald were the centre of stewards’ probing into the incident with Aerodrome’s jockey Regan Bayliss also asked to give evidence.

McDonald, who rode Providence, felt the shift frontrunner Crown The King played a role in the incident after it shifted off the fence.

The nine-time premiership-winning hoop maintained he stayed one off the fence and got pressure from his outside by the eventual winner.

“I got forcefully pushed back in because I didn’t quicken as quickly he did,” McDonald said.

Sherry said he “completely disagreed” with McDonald’s evidence.

“I have had to shift slightly because Crown The King and Mr McDonald’s horse have come out,” he said.

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Chief steward Tom Moxon questioned if Sherry had shown the “duty of care” for his fellow riders at the point immediately prior to the incident when Grand Prairie was fighting for a run.

Sherry argued he wasn’t riding vigorously at the time and was “going through the motions” on the winner as he took a run he believed was his to take.

Stewards charged Sherry with careless riding with the Group 1-winning rider already set to begin a another ban on Sunday, meaning he won’t start his second suspension until Spetember 7.

He had looked to have plenty to offer in the run after riding Grand Prairie midfield with cover from the good draw.

Despite the fracas, Grand Prairie ($3.90 favourite) was able to pick himself up in the straight and produced a powerful burst to score.

The Peter Snowden-trained galloper was strong late to get the better of the Chris Waller-trained Fermoy ($13) by a short-neck with Bjorn Baker’s Crown The King ($20) holding on for third.

Grand Prairie had been only narrowly beaten in the Listed Rosebud last start but got his stakes reward despite the chequered passage.

“He deserved it,” Snowden said.

“He has been racing well and he relaxed super today, which was great and he was good at the end which was good to see.

“It’s a good result.

“As long as he’s alright, that’s the main thing.”

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A Group victory bodes well for Grand Prairie’s future stud prospects for owners Yulong with the impeccable bred colt a son of Written Tycoon out of Group 1 winning sprinter Viddora.

Snowden will give consideration to hunting a Group 1 victory with Grand Prairie in next month’s Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27.

Bookies shortened Grand Prairie from $51 into $26 for the three-year-old feature.

“Naturally if he ran well today I would think about the Golden Rose for him but I just need to see how he’s pulled up and see how things are,” Snowden said.

“He’s done a good job and he deserved a nice race. I’m glad he’s one, it was just unfortunate with the incident today.”

“He is very genuine and he ran the 1300 right out today which was good to see.”

Tommy Berry was able to avoid all the carnage on Fermoy and looked the winner halfway down the straight before just going down late.

Berry was adamant Fermoy has a nice race in him this preparation.

“He’s a lovely horse,” Berry said.

“I’ve got no doubt he will make it at the top level.”

Originally published as Tom Sherry cops big ban after Up And Coming victory on Grand Prairie was marred by fall