Jockey Ben Melham reacts to his win on Assign in race 3 on Legends Day at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday, March 25, 2017. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Ben Melham will miss day two of The Championships after being suspended for two weeks (starting April 2 and expiring on April 16), for hitting Assign at least 15 times with the whip before the 100m, 10 more than allowed, when winning on Saturday.

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Trainer of the runner-up Astronomos, John Thompson said “he would have asked the question” about a protest had he known about the serious breach of the whip rule by Melham.

Some jockeys continually disregard the maximum five strikes with the whip before the 100m mark and therefore have an edge over those who abide by the rules. But Van Gestel said Saturday’s suspension sent a clear message serious breaches won’t be tolerated.

Ben Melham was suspended for two weeks and fined for excessive use of the whip on Assign on Saturday.Source:AAP

“We are more than satisfied with the way the rule is but unfortunately in races with significant prizemoney some riders choose to flout the rules and they have to be sent a message it won’t be tolerated,” he said.

Melham was also fined $2000 and a further $1000 for excessive whip use on She Will Reign (10 times before the 100m mark) in the Golden Slipper last weekend.

Godolphin no certainty

GODOLPHIN hasn’t ruled out taking part in the inaugural running of The Everest but don’t expect it to be buying a $1.8 million slot anytime soon.

Godolphin’s Australian boss Henry Plumptre said the global racing operation will chime in late if it takes part in the $10 million The Everest in October.

“Those decisions to spend $1.8 million are very much Sheik Mohammed’s decisions,” he said.

“(Godolphin) didn’t take a slot in (Pegasus World Cup) either and at this stage (chief executive John Ferguson’s) feeling is if we are approaching The Everest with a colt two to three weeks out, if someone has a slot, we probably do a trade.”

Ascot not on agenda for Astern

LAST year’s Golden Rose winner Astern tuned up for this weekend’s TJ Smith with a track gallop between races at Newcastle on Saturday — but don’t expect to see him at Royal Ascot in June.

“He has too many viral issues to go to Royal Ascot,” Godolphin’s Henry Plumptre said. “Last year before the Slipper and last spring after the Golden Rose and this year when he came back in, he just gets these little temperature rises which is why he didn’t go to Melbourne.”

Astern shaded stablemate Ozark in the 1000m gallop, posting 34.16s for his last 600m.

A modern legend

EVER wondered what Hugh Bowman looks like after digital editing?

Look no further than the cover of the Legends Day racebook at Rosehill.

Work of art: Hugh Bowman on the cover of the Legends Day racebook.Source:Supplied

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JEFF Lloyd’s achievement to equal Chris Munce’s Brisbane metropolitan record of 103 winners on Saturday was quite remarkable considering there is still more than four months of the season remaining.

The 55-year-old became the oldest jockey to win the Brisbane premiership last season and he will break his own record this year. Another example that age is only a number.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

SPECTROSCOPE (flying), DIXIE BLOSSOMS (gate cost her), NURSE KITCHEN (lovely Oaks trial).

ONES TO SACK

CLASSIC UNIFORM (needs a break?), RUDY (only gets harder), HONEYWINE (not going well).

SATURDAY SLAUGHTER

Jason Collett (Astronomos)

RIDE OF THE DAY

Corey Brown (Spectroscope)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I have had that horse in my stable for 10 days and improved it out of sight.” — BJORN BAKER’s quip after his Kiwi-based father Murray’s horse Jon Snow won the Tulloch Stakes.

Originally published as Whip rule working just fine