The Jockey Club has stood down British rider Harry Bentley from all racing activities with immediate effect, pending his attendance at a stewards’ inquiry into a potential disciplinary matter.
On Friday night, the Jockey Club issued a brief statement in which it advised that Bentley, who has ridden seven Hong Kong winners this season, would not be permitted to ride in races, trials and trackwork until he attends the hearing, the time and date for which the stewards have yet to set.
Connections had booked Bentley to partner eight gallopers on Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day, including Nimble Nimbus in Sunday’s Group Three feature over 1,800m and sponsor-owned runner Beauty Destiny in the Class Four Grace One Handicap (1,200m).
Keagan de Melo will replace Bentley aboard Nimble Nimbus and Angus Chung Yik-lai will jump on Beauty Destiny, with Alexis Badel, Matthew Chadwick, Luke Ferraris and Matthew Poon Ming-fai joining De Melo and Chung in picking up rides from the Briton.
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Bentley has been a member of the Hong Kong jockeys’ roster since April 2021, when he arrived in the city as the winner of two Group One events – one in France and one in the United Kingdom – and six consecutive riders’ championships in Qatar.
None of Bentley’s 62 victories on Hong Kong soil has occurred at Group level, with the Class One triumphs of Preciousship and Majestic Star being the 31-year-old jockey’s highest-graded successes.
Going into Sunday’s 10-race programme at Sha Tin, Bentley is eighth in this season’s championship, with his seven wins ranking him behind Zac Purton (20), Hugh Bowman (20), Chung (12), Karis Teetan (11), Andrea Atzeni (nine), Lyle Hewitson (eight) and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu (eight) after 15 meetings.
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