Josh Adams' resurgence in the saddle has been brought to a shuddering halt by a six-week suspension incurred at Moree on Sunday.
Adams was hauled before stewards after he stopped riding $1.70 favourite Magic Ray 100m from the post in the McDonalds Moree Maiden Plate (1300m) which ended in the narrowest of defeats.
Magic Ray had hit the front when Adams ceased riding but the jockey was jolted back into action at the 50m mark where Lord Russel ($26) burst onto the scene to his inside.
The pair hit the line locked together before Lord Russel was adjudged the winner by a nose.
Adams pleaded guilty in that he had failed to ride his mount out to the line before being slapped with a six-week suspension, due to commence this Wednesday. He will be free to return to riding on October 18.
Stewards were satisfied that betting patterns on the race were within normal parameters.
In a tight finish, Lord Russel grabs Magic Ray in the shadows of the post to claim honours in R2 at #Moree. pic.twitter.com/rXkTN2Q1IW
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 3, 2017
Adams' ban comes less than 24 hours after winning the Group II Tramway Stakes (1400m) on the Pat Webster-trained Happy Clapper at Randwick on Saturday.
Webster has been mentoring Adams in his road to recovery from drug addiction which resulted in a 2-1/2-year disqualification back in 2014.
Happy Clapper is set to take on Winx in the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in a fortnight, with Blake Shinn announced as the new rider.
Shinn has previously ridden the gelding on 10 occasions for four wins and four placings.
