Dettori's fortunes take a rough turn

Lanfranco Dettori will miss the Friday of the Doncaster St Leger meeting after being found guilty of improper riding aboard Guesstimation in the opening race at York yesterday.

The champion was banned for two days (8 and 11 September, but not 9 September, St Leger day) for trying to turn the gelding in a very rough manner and using his whip once as he pulled up after the race.

In a busy day for the stewards, Kieran Fallon was interviewed after being dislodged by Office Hours as the gelding came out of the stalls for the three-year-old maiden stakes. The stewards accepted Fallon's explanation that the horse dived to the right as he came out of the stalls and the jockey was unseated.

The race, won by Bay Of Islands, was marred by a fatal injury to the favourite, United Forces. Peter Chapple-Hyam's gelding had to be put down after suffering a compound fracture of the front off-fore leg.

There was more disappointment for Chapple-Hyam when his Astor Place, the 4-6 favourite, could finish only fourth to Red Robbo in the closing race for two-year-old maidens. Both colts had been touted as being among their stables' best hopes.