Silvestre de Sousa to miss Cambridgeshire meeting after receiving 24-day ban for breaching whip rules

Silvestre de Sousa has received a 24-day ban, eight of which have been suspended, for multiple breaches of the whip rules.

De Sousa, 43, was referred to the disciplinary panel by the Whip Review Committee (WRC) for his use of the whip when second on Big Mojo in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster this month.

The three-time champion jockey was found to have used his whip above the permitted level of strikes, which was his fifth breach of the rules in the last six months. In addition, De Sousa has previously been referred to the WRC for using the whip above the permitted level, for not giving his mount time to respond and for use in the incorrect place.

A plea agreement was proposed by the BHA and accepted by De Sousa before being ratified by judicial panel member Tim Grey on Monday.

In his summary, Grey wrote: "I am concerned to note Mr De Sousa had a previous finding made against him in 2021 relating to use of the whip. However, I do not consider that previous history aggravates this present offence, such that the proposed penalty is not appropriate in all the circumstances."

De Sousa will miss this weekend's Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket with his suspension covering the period between September 27 and October 5 before resuming on October 7 and running until October 13. There is no Flat racing in Britain on Sunday, October 6.

De Sousa, who was champion Flat jockey in 2015, 2017 and 2018, has enjoyed an excellent season on his return to Britain after serving a ten-month suspension imposed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club last year in relation to facilitating a bet placed on a race by fellow Brazilian rider Victor Borges.

The rider has been particularly successful in linking up with Newmarket powerhouse Roger Varian, landing the 1,000 Guineas on Elmalka and partnering Charyn to win the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois and bet365 Mile at Sandown.

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