Stewards stripped Nikita Beriman of her chance to ride in a Group I race at Moonee Valley next Friday after suspending her for careless riding at Caulfield.
Beriman was booked to ride Ocean Embers for the Shea Eden stable in the Moir Stakes but was suspended for 12 meetings for her riding of the second placegetter I Did It Again in the Fight Cancer Foundation Plate (1100m).
Beriman pleaded guilty to allowing I Did It Again to shift in, taking in Noel Callow's mount Counterplay, who in turn made contact with Ben Thompson's mount Arctic Angel.
Beriman told stewards she kept I Did It Again straight until Counterplay made contact with her mount's hindquarters, which set the Greg Eurell-trained galloper on an inward course.
Beriman also said Ben Thompson rolled out from the inside on Arctic Angel at the same time as her mount moved in.
Callow said the interference Counterplay suffered was "a little bit of both inside and outside.''
Stewards disagreed, telling Beriman her offence fell into the midrange of severity before suspending her for 12 meetings.
The penalty added to Beriman's bad luck in the event after she dropped her whip in the last 100m, which she said cost the $2.20 favourite his unbeaten record.
"I went to pick up my reins and then felt it slip out of my hands and it was too late," Beriman said.
"By then the race was all over - he's the type of horse that needs encouragement and it's cost me the race."
