Jockey Martin Dwyer is set to face an inquiry in India following his third-place finish aboard the favourite for a race at Mahalaxmi racecourse in Mumbai.
Dwyer finished a narrow third on market leader Ice Age in the final race on Sunday, Division One of the Ice Magic Plate, prompting an angry response from racegoers.
Ice Age appeared to drift towards the rail in the closing stages, bumping the eventual runner-up and causing Dwyer to snatch up his mount.
The Royal Western India Turf Club stewards called an inquiry and announced the horse was to be deemed a non-starter, with all bets refunded.
The RWITC has since confirmed Dwyer will be the subject of a further hearing. The horse was disqualified because on preliminary inquiry, it appeared that the horse was not run fairly. Inquiry against the concerned jockey has been instituted,” RWITC chairman Khushroo Dhunjibhoy told www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
However, Dwyer’s agent Simon Dodds revealed there was a medical reason for Ice Age’s defeat and expects the matter to be resolved at the inquiry on Sunday.
“He dismounted the horse shortly after the line because he felt something wasn’t right and he’s done the right thing because the vets found that the horse bled quite heavily from the nose. And I believe the horse actually wobbled a bit after the race as well,” he said.
“The local stewards are going to have an inquiry about it on Sunday and Martin can’t talk to the press about it until then, so you won’t be hearing from him.
“But I would expect that it will be cleared up then. There was a small bit of interference from his horse to one of the others and he might get a suspension for that but it should be minimal, if anything.”