Heavyweight jockey Jamie Mott took himself to the limit in his bid to ride the well-backed favourite Jamaican Rain in the last race at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jamaican Rain was well-backed in the early betting on the Inglis Supports Riding for the Disabled Association Plate (1400m) after impressive wins at her last two runs and the talented heavyweight jockey Mott was booked to ride the mare at 54kg.
Mott said he has not tried to ride as light as 54kg for "about five years" and advised stewards on the day before the meeting that he would be riding Jamaican Rain a half kilogram over.
Mott made the weight but knew he was in trouble about 90 minutes before the race when he advised stewards he was could not ride the Richard Laming-trained galloper.
"I got out of the spa and I was shivering with a headache and in no position to fulfil rides," Mott said.
"I have just lost too much (weight). I apologise. I just want to lie down on the ground now and recover."
Stewards were unhappy with Mott's failure to advise them earlier that he was struggling to make the weight.
"We checked with you and checked with the trainer twice this week and we told the whole world two days ago that you would be a half (kilogram) over," chief steward Terry Bailey told Mott.
"You were at the weight but you can't ride it. To be at the weight, you've got to be able to ride the horse."
Stewards fined Mott $400 for failing to fulfil his booking on Jamaican Rain while the four-year-old finished fourth as a $2.70 favourite with her replacement rider Noel Callow aboard.
