'Just a mistake' - Hughes backs Rooke as BHA strips young rider of five wins

Trainer Richard Hughes gave George Rooke his full backing and support on Monday after the apprentice was stripped of five winners and banned for seven days for failing to report successes in Jersey last year, which meant he rode in – and won – races using a claim that was incorrect.

Rooke rode three winners at Les Landes racecourse in Jersey last summer, but did not notify authorities of that haul which would have contributed to his claim later being reduced to 5lb from 7lb.

In February this year, commentator Mark Johnson, also president of the Jersey Race Club, queried with officials at Newcastle why the young rider's winners abroad had not counted to his claim.

Raceday stewards informed the BHA's central office in London of the matter and the regulator challenged the results of 26 races Rooke participated in, seven of which he won from August last year until February.

It argued Rooke claimed 7lb rather than what should have been 5lb in seven races, claimed the incorrect weight in 11 contests due to specific race conditions, and took part in eight races in which he was ineligible to ride after not disclosing his Jersey winners.

At a hearing last month, the 19-year-old was adamant that he was unaware he had to report overseas victories, but an independent disciplinary panel on Monday delivered its verdict, disqualifying winners Rooke rode for Patrick Chamings, Olly Williams, Hughes, Gay Kelleway and George Baker.

A fine in the era of the coronavirus pandemic was "not thought appropriate" by the panel, which also noted the jockey made "a bad error with serious consequences".

That is something his mentor Hughes – a three-time champion jockey during his sublime career in the saddle – also acknowledges.

"He'll get over this and be grand," said the Lambourn trainer, whose Queen Of All had a race at Southwell in February scratched from her CV.

"It was just a mistake. The rules are the rules and George is wrong. He's a good lad who works hard and he's really learned how to race-ride, which is great. He'll bounce back and be fine; it's a week's suspension.

"He does feel very embarrassed for the people he rode winners for, but it's one of those things – he didn't mean it."

Asked if the BHA should take more responsibility for monitoring foreign winners, Hughes, frustrated with how long the process took, added: "They have to see in this day and age their systems should be up to date, while I think they should reimburse the owners, who are getting hit hard enough. The BHA are able to waste money on a lot of other things."

Richard Hughes: trainer has employed Rooke for two yearsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Newmarket-based Kelleway, who has seen Mukha Magic also lose a Southwell success in the spring, spoke along similar lines.

"It's very disappointing when it's no fault of the owner, trainer, stable staff or the horse," she said. "It's bad and has taken more than a year to come to a conclusion. The owner loses prize-money, travel expenses and cost of getting the horse ready.

"It should have been an NQ [not qualified]. That should have automatically come up in the system. It happened to me when I was riding and I thought it would never happen again. If a jockey is banned or not qualified it goes NQ. Why did the same not happen after he rode those winners in Jersey?"

The BHA, which sought a 14-day-plus suspension, suggested it would look into measures to prevent a repeat of the situation.

"Mr Rooke was subject to a fair hearing in front of an independent disciplinary panel, and we accept their findings that he was in breach of the relevant rules and their decision to impose a seven-day suspension," a spokesman said.

"It is appropriate for the panel to apply an approach consistent with the objective of the Judicial Panels Code to achieve a fair and just result with regards to the retrospective qualification of Mr Rooke to ride in certain races in what were unusual circumstances.

"There were a number of factors at play in this case. With such a significant number of horses involved the impact on connections and on the administration of racing was considerable, but it was evident that Mr Rooke's actions have already had a considerable effect upon him, particularly at such an early stage of his career.

"We will be considering whether there is further work needed within the training and coaching procedures for young jockeys to minimise the risk of an incident like this happening again."

Rooke, who has worked for Hughes since April 2018, will be out of action from August 25-31.

Read more on this story:

Teenage rider Rooke: I honestly didn't know I had to report my winners in Jersey

Red-hot Rooke 'mortified' at prospect of losing winners after four-timer

Apprentice jockey facing 26 disqualifications for riding with incorrect claim

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