De Sousa hit with suspension and referred to BHA for whip offence

Champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa twice found himself in trouble with the stewards when initially picking up a four-day ban for careless riding before being referred to the BHA head office for a whip offence.

De Sousa’s first trip to the stewards' room resulted in the ban after it was adjudged he had allowed Goodwood Showman, who finished third in the opener, to drift left-handed and hamper the unplaced pair Graceful James and Arctic Sea.

But it is the whip referral that could hold deeper implications as he was found to have used his stick above the permitted level aboard Fox Fearless, runner-up in the mile nursery.