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'I feel like crying': Controversial Cup jockey cops huge ban

Australian Associated Press

Globe trotting jockey Frankie Dettori has returned to scale with his head bowed after crossing the line for another second placing in the Melbourne Cup.

Dettori partnered the Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned, Joseph O'Brien-trained Master Of Reality who was beaten a head by Vow And And Declare in Tuesday's race.

It was the third time in 17 Melbourne Cup appearances Dettori had been second across the line following Central Park in 1999 and Max Dynamite in 2015.

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"I feel like crying," Dettori said.

Things got worse for Dettori when a stewards' protest was lodged on behalf of the connections of fourth placegetter, Il Paradisio ridden by Wayne Lordan, against Dettori resulting in Master Of Reality being relegated to fourth.

Jockey Frankie Dettori, pictured, has copped a nine-race ban for his Melbourne Cup conduct.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, whose Melbourne Cup mount Master of Reality was demoted from second to fourth after a protest, has since copped a nine-race ban. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

At a subsequent stewards inquiry, Dettori pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge, deemed in the low range, and suspended for nine meetings.

Dettori will begin the ban immediately and will have to delay the start of a four-week contract to ride in Japan.

Frankie Dettori comes off second-best after protest

Australian hopeful Vow and Declare finished strongly along the fence to win the Cup by a nose in sensational fashion, but it was the tussle for second, third and fourth which caught the eye of race officials.

After the race, the stewards themselves lodged a protest against jockey Frankie Dettori, who had ridden Master of Reality to second place, on behalf of fourth-placed Il Paradiso.

Il Paradiso is trained by Aidan O’Brien, while his son Joseph O’Brien prepared Master of Reality for Australian owner Lloyd Williams.

After nearly half an hour of deliberations following the race, Il Paradiso was promoted to third, Prince of Arran to second, and Master of Reality was bumped down to fourth place.