Mark Zahra appeals careless riding penalty

Jockey Mark Zahra will appeal the length of a suspension out of his Lightning Stakes-winning ride.

Mark Zahra has lodged an appeal against the severity of a careless riding suspension which threatens to sideline him for the Australian Guineas meeting at Flemington.

Zahra was suspended for eight meetings at Flemington last Saturday after pleading guilty to careless riding aboard Gytrash when winning the Group One Lightning Stakes.

The jockey is due to start the ban after this Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield where his feature race rides include second favourite Rulership in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes and Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth in the Group One Futurity Stakes.

Zahra’s appeal will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Thursday.

He will need to get the penalty reduced by one meeting to be able to ride at Saturday week’s Group One Australian Guineas meeting.