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No magic in appeal decision for Pike

Champion jockey William Pike's hopes of riding at the rich Magic Millions meeting were dashed yesterday when his appeal against the severity of a careless riding suspension was thrown out by the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal.

Pike was suspended for 30 days for careless riding on Full Reign at Ascot on December 29 in an incident which led to jockey Peter Hall having a nasty fall.

At an inquiry on January 14, stewards ruled Pike shifted Full Reign outwards at the 400m, bumping with Mac It Is (Shaun Meeres), who subsequently bumped with Hall's mount Mighty Rossa.

Hall suffered two fractured vertebrae, a fractured shoulder joint, torn ligaments in his neck, a broken sternum, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

He will be sidelined for three months.

Pike's lawyer, Mark Millington, yesterday submitted to the RPAT that the stewards' classification of Pike's carelessness in the incident as mid-level was incorrect.

Millington said Pike's level of carelessness was low because he only made a marginal shift on Full Reign and the subsequent suspension was too excessive.

He pointed to evidence from steward Rick Mance and Meeres during the stewards' inquiry supporting his submission.

But the tribunal's chairman Dan Mossenson rejected the appeal.

"I have not been persuaded by either argument and dismiss the appeal," Mossenson said.

"I will publish reasons in due course."

Pike's suspension ends on February 19.

He was in line for the ride on unbeaten three-year-old Portonian in the $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1400m) on February 16.

The $250,000 MM Perth 2YO Classic (1100m) is run on the same day and he would have had the choice of several good rides.