George Rooke banned for riding a finish a circuit too soon at Wolverhampton

Apprentice George Rooke had a night to forget after riding a finish a circuit too soon at Wolverhampton on Saturday, for which he was hit with a 14-day suspension.

Rooke, a 5lb claimer based with Richard Hughes, was riding the well-backed 11-4 joint-favourite Sophar Sogood for Paul D'Arcy in the 2m½f handicap.

Leading the field turning into the home straight for the first time, the jockey started to get serious with his mount, stretching out the gap back to his rivals all the way to the line.

Watch a replay of the Wolverhampton incident

Rooke was seemingly unaware of his mistake until the rest of the field swept by him heading out to the back straight, at which point he started riding again.

Having expended his mount's energy, he eventually trailed home on Sophar Sogood to finish ninth of ten, beaten 55¼ lengths.

After interviewing the rider and showing him recordings of the incident, the stewards banned Rooke for 14 days (October 3, 5-17).

Rooke, successful on his only ride at Chelmsford on Sunday, declined to comment when contacted by the Racing Post, while D'Arcy described the incident as "very unfortunate" when he was contacted.

The 19-year-old, who is regarded as a highly promising apprentice, also hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last month when he was stripped of five winners and banned for seven days for failing to report successes in Jersey last year, which meant he rode in – and won – races using a claim that was incorrect.

He is not the first jockey to ride a finish a circuit early at Wolverhampton's sharp 7½f oval all-weather track, as Rob Hornby and Mirco Demuro received 12-day suspensions for similar offences in 2017 and 2012.

Read more:

'Just a mistake' - Hughes backs Rooke as BHA strips young rider of five wins

Teenage rider Rooke: I honestly didn't know I had to report my winners in Jersey

Red-hot Rooke 'mortified' at prospect of losing winners after four-timer

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