Mertens to miss Memsie Stakes meeting

Darryl Sherer - Monday August 28

Beau Mertens will miss the first Group I meeting of the season in Melbourne after incurring a suspension at Cranbourne on Sunday.

Mertens pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in the sixth race, the Highview Accounting & Financial Class 1 Handicap over 1400m.

Mertens rode Swiss Moments for his master Michael Kent and shifted ground near the 450m when insufficiently clear of I Like Ike, causing that horse to be tightened for room and lose its position.

Stewards suspended Mertens for eight meetings, to commence at midnight on August 27 and expire at midnight on Monday, September 4.

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