O'Hara Handling Charge Rules Out Championships

Jockey Kathy O'Hara will miss The Championships after being given a three-week suspension over a handling charge, her first offense of this type in 18 years of riding, reports punters.com.au. Stewards charged her under AR129(2) for not giving her mount its full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field when she rode Sippity Sup (Sebring-Nursery Thyme, by Tale of the Cat) at Newcastle on February 18. O'Hara pleaded not guilty, however, stewards believed the way she rode Sippity Sup aggressively out of the gates was not in accordance with instructions from the Chris Waller stable, and she could have taken up a trailing position. The suspension will go from March 26 until April 15, meaning that O'Hara is clear to ride in this Saturday's meeting at Rosehill, where she has four rides, including Rocket Tiger (Cluster-Takook, by Keltrice) in the Gr1 Golden Slipper and Fiesta (I Am Invincible-Now Now, by Danehill Dancer) in the Group 1 Galaxy.