'It tarnishes my reputation' - Ross Coakley stands by ride following 23-day ban

Jockey Ross Coakley has been left upset by a controversial 23-day ban that he feels has painted him in a poor light following his first Group victory in Germany on Sunday.

Coakley's mount Dubawi Legend made all the running to win the Group 3 Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche, but there was a sting in the tail for the rider after the stewards determined he had used his whip nine times – four over the permitted level.

Coakley gave his mount four conventional strikes, but was also adjudged to have used the whip five times due to his use of the reins as, while applying pressure, his whip made unintentional contact with the horse's shoulder.

The 27-year-old was left shocked by the stewards' decision and feels he did little wrong on the day having received advice from weighing-room colleagues and a briefing from the stewards before the race.

"I was well versed going out. I spoke to Jack Mitchell, who has ridden out there, and I shared a lift with Franny Norton from the airport," said Coakley.

"The stewards briefed me in the parade ring about five uses of the ProCush. They said down the shoulder with hands on the rein still counts, so I was very conscious of the rules.

"You're always trying to ride respectfully to each jurisdiction's rules. I left it very late to turn the stick over and my first thought after pulling up wasn't about the satisfaction of winning a Group 3, it was whether I'd kept within the rules.

"In my head I'd used the ProCush four times and I was within the rules, so when I got the tap on the shoulder and was brought in to the stewards to be told I'd used it nine times, it was a shock."

Although obviously frustrated by the ban, Coakley is focused on the reputational damage the 23-day suspension may cause.

"What upset me the most in the aftermath was the headlines," said Coakley. "The ban makes it sound like I did something sinister. From a professional point of view that's the part that upset me. It tarnishes my reputation.

"I've said all along, for anyone to please watch the replay and see what the ride was before laying judgement."

Coakley believes there is an element of appeasing public perception in the decision, but a ban of this nature could do more harm that good.

"They have their rules and like everyone they're under pressure with public perception, but I think the ban is worse for public perception than my actions were in the race," said Coakley.

"I know I haven't done anything wrong, I don't think anyone who watched the race will say I did anything unprofessional. It's not a mark against my name, but the ban is. Until they watch the race, people will assume the worst."

Dubawi Legend: Coakley was adjudged to have been four over the limit in his use of the whip when riding the colt on SundayCredit: Caroline Norris

Although he has no firm plans to appeal, Coakley has been left reeling at a potentially significant loss of earnings.

He said: "I have no firm plans to put in an appeal at the minute, I haven't spoken to anyone yet and I have a week to lodge an appeal.

"The ban is a huge loss of income for me, on top of percentage of prize-money I've lost. On average I'm getting between two and four rides a day, and 23 days of that is a huge hit to my income."

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