Stewards Hunt Missing Mclellan

Newcastle Herald

Monday October 6, 2008

By GEOFF WILSON

NEWCASTLE stewards will sleuth out this week the cases of the missing jockey and horse.

They will be continuing their inquiries into the no-shows of comeback jockey Darryl "Digger" McLellan and Rosehill galloper Magnus Barefoot at Broadmeadow on Saturday.

McLellan was to return to riding after a two-year absence but did not front.

He had four rides and was named to partner Kings Course, which scored a strong win in the class one handicap over 1200 metres.

Stewards spent the day trying to get in contact with McLellan.

They were given four phone numbers for McLellan but had no luck in reaching him after trying repeatedly.

It was revealed he was at trackwork at Newcastle on Saturday morning and rode six horses.

Replacement jockeys had to be found to take McLellan's mounts.

Chief provincial steward Steve Carvosso said McLellan has been barred from riding until an inquiry was held at Cessnock next Monday.

Stewards then had to send out a search party when Magnus Barefoot did not arrive in the parade ring for the 1400m maiden plate.

It was soon discovered that the three-year-old was lazing in his stables at trainer David Payne's Rosehill yard.

"We want to interview David Payne over the matter, but when we did ring him he said he thought the horse had been scratched two days ago," Carvosso said on Saturday.

"It was never his intention to send the horse up to Newcastle, but we did expect to see Magnus Barefoot ready to race. Our inquiries so far show no record of the horse being withdrawn from Newcastle."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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