KILLIAN Leonard has won his appeal against a six-day careless riding ban he received at Dundalk on November 28th. The jockey argued that his mount, Mr Kobe, was inexperienced and ran free. Any interference was not caused by the jockey, he said. The Appeals Body allowed the appeal.

Jack Cleary has been given a six-day ban for careless riding at Dundalk on November 14th. The stewards on the day took no action against Cleary for his ride aboard Aurora’s Beauty in an apprentice handicap.

But, following a referral from a senior racing official, the Referrals Committee found Cleary responsible for an incident which led to a fall for jockey Robyn Donaghue-Leahy.

ADVERTISE will stand at a fee of €5,000 next year at Gordon Doyle’s Knockmullen House Stud in New Ross, Co Wexford. His yearlings averaged €33,000 at the recent sales.

Mekhtaal will have a small fee increase from €2,000 to €2,500. He is the sire of Duc De Roche, an impressive listed chase winner at Auteuil last weekend, having previously been Grade 2-placed. His only store sold this year realised €50,000 at the Derby Sale and his foals have make up to €16,500. His first Irish crop are turning two.

Technician remains at €2,000 and Silas Marner, the only son of Mutathir at stud in Ireland, remains at €1,200.

ROBERT Whearty has travelled to Melbourne to ride for trainer Ciaron Maher this winter. The 21-year-old from Bellewstown finished second in the Irish apprentice championship this year. He told racing.com: “Dylan Browne McMonagle, Niall McCullagh and Gavin Cromwell encouraged me to come to Melbourne to try and get started while the (flat) racing was quiet in Ireland.

“It seemed like a good idea, so I reached out to Ciaron’s office via email and here we are. I came to Melbourne and am now into my third week at Ciaron’s at Cranbourne and I love it. The people are very friendly and everyone’s willing to help you. And, I’m riding nice horses, group-class horses.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to learn about riding in a different part of the world and I’m lucky to be able to do that with Ciaron, who is a brilliant trainer. They do things a bit differently here to back home, so it’s a good learning experience.”