Erratic In The Attic Must Settle Or Risk Ban

Newcastle Herald

Monday March 19, 2007

By GEOFF WILSON

SATURDAY'S impressive Newcastle winner In The Attic is under threat of being barred from racing for good as the result of bizarre circumstances.

In The Attic out-sped her rivals in leading all the way to win the Rating 63 handicap over 900 metres on Saturday.

That was the easy part for In The Attic and her connections.

The real drama came before the race.

Trainer Darren Smith and jockey Darryl McLellan were ordered into the stewards room and were told that if In The Attic could not be mounted in the saddling enclosure she would be put on notice that a ban was imminent.

"The stewards said they were enforcing the rule about horses having to take their place in the pre-race parade with a jockey in the saddle," Smith said.

"They said they were trying to stop the rorting of the system where some horses go out early and are led to the barriers.

"That is not the case with this mare, as she has been the same from the time she first went to the trials. She just won't let a jockey on her until they get her onto the track. My mare tossed Digger [McLellan] when he tried to get on her in the mounting yard.

"When she was led on the track she again got rid of Digger."

Smith had to race onto the track, leg up McLellan and lead the mare towards the barriers before she consented.

"The stewards said she had her first warning, and it was a three-strikes-and-you-are-out policy," he said.

"So if she keeps it up, she will be barred for life."

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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