Spare a thought for John Peacock.
Based at Murray Bridge, Peacock is the trainer of Senior Council, the horse that lost any hope of winning Saturday’s final race at Morphettville, after veering towards the outside rail near the 200-metre mark in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1250m).
With Josh Cartwright in the saddle, Senior Council cannoned into Go The Journey (Matthew Poon), which in turn collided with House Of Wax, temporarily unseating that horse’s rider Jason Holder.
Cartwright was charged and pleaded guilty to a reckless riding charge and faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
READ: Cartwright “devastated” after charge
South Australian Jockey Club stewards said Cartwright “directed and rode his mount outwards in a reckless manner at an acute angle with the intention of making contact with runners to his outside”.
“It makes me feel sick,” Peacock told G1X.com.au.
“I didn’t know nothing about it yesterday, but I’ve heard all about it now and seen the replay.
“I can’t believe it. Why would they want to do it to me, I’m a bloody poor trainer.”
Peacock, who has just 10 horses in work, is of the opinion his six-year-old gelding would have been in the finish, had the shocking incident not taken place.
“I thought he was going to win, when he started to get going, then he went sideways,” Peacock said. “It cost him all chance of winning.”
According to Peacock, Cartwright didn’t take any blame for Senior Council’s waywardness in the straight, post-race.
“I asked Josh what happened, and he said, ‘I went to ease out behind that horse and he just took off sideways’,” Peacock commented.
“He’s (Senior Council) never done that before.”
Senior Council ($51) finished ninth, beaten five lengths. House Of Wax ($7) was seventh, while Go The Journey ($5.50) ran fifth.
The race was won by Murti ($4) under apprentice Anna Jordsjo – Cartwright’s girlfriend.
G1X.com.au understands there were a couple of incidents that happened earlier in the day in the jockeys’ room.
“If I had’ve known what had happened I probably would have knocked him out,” Peacock quipped. “Nah, I’m not like that.
“I was disappointed. I wasn’t angry because I didn’t know what had happened.
“I took his word for it.”
Peacock revealed Cartwright only got the ride on Senior Council at the last minute.
“I’ve never used him before. His manager rung me for the ride because I was stuck for a rider. The Darwin jockey who was going to ride him, Stephen Ridler, he had to ride Dick Leech’s horse (Zocalos) because he rides for him,” Peacock explained.
Cartwright was stood down immediately, while an inquiry into the incident was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Cartwright, 22, is unable to ride in races or trackwork until the case is heard.
Reckless riding penalties can range from one to three-month suspensions.
