Another fight.....
Monday, November 12, 2007
Costly start to day for Prebble and Yeung
ALAN AITKEN
Top jockey Brett Prebble and apprentice Thomas Yeung Kai-tong ended yesterday with penalties for two charges each of misconduct after an incident on the track boiled over into a confrontation in the jockeys' room.
Chief steward Jamie Stier said that, with no video evidence available of either incident, verbal evidence was the basis of Prebble leaving the track $70,000 lighter and Yeung departing with a three-day ban and a $10,000 fine, after the two pace-making riders from the opening event were ready to lock horns soon after the race.
The pair had virtually shared the front running at a hot pace in the event before Bliss Star finished fourth and Silly Boy dropped out, but Stier said that was when the problem began.
"As the field was easing down after the race, Prebble rode Bliss Star towards Silly Boy and, when he did, Thomas Yeung was struck by Bliss Star's head," the chief steward said. "Yeung responded by hitting Bliss Star in the region of the head with his whip."
Both pleaded not guilty to misconduct, but Prebble copped a $50,000 fine for his action and Yeung $10,000, but there was more to come.
"Having returned to the jockeys' room, Yeung then confronted Prebble and pushed him," Stier said. "Prebble retaliated in kind, pushing back at Thomas Yeung. For these two actions, each rider pleaded guilty to a misconduct charge and Yeung was suspended for three days, commencing after Sha Tin this Wednesday, and Prebble was fined an additional $20,000."
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