JIM BYRNE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE PREMIERSHIP CHASE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 7, 2022

Premiership title chasing Jim Byrne is set to continue riding under a stay of proceedings, after being handed a seven-day suspension for his ride on Corfe Castle in the Bruce McLachlan Classic at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

“Yeah, I put in the paperwork this morning (Wednesday),” said Byrne, who hasn’t yet given up on landing a fifth Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership.

Time is running out though for Byrne though, who sits five winners behind Jimmy Orman in the chase for that premiership, and a suspension would seemingly have all but snuffed out the remaining flicker of hope that Byrne held in that regard.

But Byrne is not appealing the penalty for that reason.

“I firmly believe … as I said in the inquiry … that my shift did not cause the incident,” explained Byrne, speaking at the Sunshine Coast meeting yesterday

“The stewards said my shift contributed to it, but my shift wasn’t what caused the incident. They did give me the minimum suspension … you have got to remember I have got a very good riding record … but you are either guilty of an incident, or you are not.

“If I was I would wear it, but, I’ll say it again, I wasn’t guilty of the incident plain and simple. The incident didn’t happen because of my shift. It happened because of another horse’s shift … and that is the reason why I am appealing.

“It is what it is … we’ll see how things work out … but I’m able to continue riding at the moment, which is good.”

Which means the chase for the Premiership is still on.

Byrne, quite incredibly won his first Jockey’s Premiership title in the 1997/98 season and his enthusiasm, determination and strength in the saddle has not weakened over time.

It will take all of that though … a maybe a touch of luck … for Byrne to have a shout at reeling in the young gun, Jimmy Orman, who would appear to have half a strangle hold on this season’s title as the Premiership challenge moves into its final weeks.

Orman currently has 70.5 metropolitan winners behind his name. Byrne is on 64.5 with Ryan Maloney next best on 58 winners.

Jim Byrne