Connections will need to find riders for two runners at Moonee Valley on Saturday after apprentice Ethan Brown lost an appeal against a careless riding suspension.
Grahame Begg will need a new rider for Emoji in the MiMatch Handicap (1509m) while David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig require a replacement for the $7 chance Boom Time in the Craig Opie Cup (1600m).
Brown appealed the verdict and the severity of a nine-meeting penalty he incurred for careless riding in a race at Pakenham on August 31.
Brown's master Mick Kent and former jockey Darren Gauci, now a coach of Victoria's apprentices, gave evidence on the young rider's behalf at a Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hearing on Thursday.
However, the RAD Board panel rejected Brown's appeal against the conviction but allowed his appeal against the severity of the ban and imposed a six-meeting suspension, meaning his penalty will now run until midnight on Tuesday after the 3kg claimer rode on a stay of proceedings until his hearing.
