Irish jockey Oisin Murphy has lost his Melbourne Cup ride on Red Verdon after copping a 15-meeting suspension for careless riding in the $1 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Murphy pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding after finishing second on the Aidan O’Brien-trained sprinter Spirit Of Valor in the Group One sprint.
Murphy was charged with permitting Spirit Of Valor to shift inwards 50 metres from the finish when not sufficiently clear of Houtzen.
As a result Houtzen was tightened onto Invincible Star resulting in Houtzen being checked and Invincible Star being hampered.
Murphy’s suspension will start at midnight on November 3 after the Victoria Derby meeting at Flemington, ruling him out of the remaining three meetings of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
He can resume riding on November 17.
In assessing Murphy’s penalty the stewards took into account his guilty plea and record but deemed that his carelessness was in the high range in a Group One event.
Murphy was booked to ride the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Verdon in the $7 million Melbourne Cup on November 6.
Dylan Dunn was also suspended for careless riding in the Manikato Stakes on Jungle Edge.
He was charged with permitting his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Malaguerra and Sunlight at the 100m hampering both horses.
Dunn was suspended from midnight on October 27 until November 5.
In other Melbourne Cup developments Hugh Bowman and Zac Purton have been confirmed as the riders of the imports Marmelo and Finche.
Bowman’s mount Marmelo finished ninth in the Melbourne Cup 12 months ago.
Purton wil fly from Hong Kong to ride Finche who made his Australian debut for Chris Waller on Wednesday when he finished third in the Geelong Cup.