Irish jockey fined by stewards for breaking Covid-19 protocols after biggest win

Irish jockey Shane Jackson was brought back down to earth in the moments after his biggest win as a rider in Australia after stewards fined him A$300 (£156) for breaching Covid-19 protocols.

Jackson, 33, who relocated to Australia in 2012 after riding 71 winners over jumps in Britain and Ireland, steered Ablaze to victory in the A$315,000 (£163,627) 3m4f Grand Annual Chase at Warrnambool on Tuesday for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

"It was a great thrill to win the race that I've wanted to win since I came over here," Jackson told Racing.com. "I've earmarked it as the one where I wouldn't be happy unless I won it."

"What a family I have at home. They are the best supporters in the world and to see the emotion and thrill they get out of it – I feel a very lucky person."

However, Jackson and assistant trainer Declan Maher were both fined the same amount after shaking hands on the way back to the winner's enclosure.

The stewards report read: "Stable representative Declan Maher and rider Shane Jackson were each fined A$300 under the provisions of AR227(a) for breaking Racing Victoria Covid-19 protocol, in that they made contact on returning to the mounting enclosure."

Jackson is not the first jockey to fall foul of the strict rules around contact operating in Australia with Tom Marquand fined A$2,000 by Racing New South Wales stewards last month after hugging Addeybb's groom following his victory in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Groom Safid Alam was also fined A$500.

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