Walker

Leading rider Omar Walker has suffered a temporary setback in a bid to win his first jockeys' championship, when he was slapped with a two-day suspension by the stewards on Tuesday at the Winchester Road offices of the Jamaica Racing Commission.

The 24-year-old apprentice, who is the new riding sensation at Caymanas Park since the second half of the year, finished second in a dead heat in a blanket finish aboard THUNDERSTORM in the third race over 1100 metres for two-year-olds on Wednesday, October 31, but was penalised for causing interference to the winner NATIONAL GALLERY and also THE QUEEN (second in dead heat) approaching the 300-metre point.

His suspension takes effect on Wednesday, November 28.

With 81 wins to his credit so far this season, Walker is 13 clear of closest rival Trevor 'Slicer' Simpson. The five-time champion will no doubt seize the opportunity to cut his lead significantly.

Walker is bidding to become only the third apprentice behind Richard Depass (1970) and Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry (1997) to win the jockeys' title in their first full season in the saddle. Walker, who claims 2.0kg, rode for the first time on July 29 last year.