Apprentice appeals three-day ban

Apprentice Kumar Bissoon has lodged an appeal with the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority against a three-day suspension landed for reckless riding on Saturday.

This was aboard Sugar Mike in the Allowance feature on the Arima Race Club Day Eight card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The lightweight, who was granted his licence in the second half of the last racing season, confirmed yesterday that he appealed the decision of the Stewards of the Arima Race Club. Bissoon said he was confident of a reversal of the decision after viewing the incident on film in the conference room of the TTRA. The ARC stewards are Pierpont Scott, Richard Halfide, Cedric Coussement and Roy Padmore. The apprentice said he watched the replay of the incident from different angles with a number of jockeys and trainers, who all felt the pile-up was not caused by his mount and did not warrant the disqualification of Sugar Mike or the severity of sentence passed.

Bissoon admitted Sugar Mike drifted slightly up the stretch but did not interfere with any of the other runners in the feature contested on the sand course. He blamed the infringement squarely on My Son John, which he claimed came across first time starter Miss Lover Lover, causing her to clip the drifter’s heels before unshipping her rider. Bissoon further revealed the film showed Miss Lover Lover drifted inwards when struck by jockey Wilmur Galviz. At that point of the 1000 metres dash he said, My Son John, with Lorne Keizer up drifted and took the ground of Miss Lover Lover causing her to dislodge her jockey. “At no time did my horse come into contact with Miss Lover Lover or impeded the chances of any  runner in the event,” said the 50-kilo claimer. Bissoon cited trainer Grant Lourenco and jockeys Wendell Bharath, and Larry Munoz, who have viewed the film. He said they are willing to share their views at any further enquiry.