Some horses are going to the line in cruise mode because of the new whip rules. That's the opinion of several jockeys I've spoken to. They say they cannot give their mounts every chance because they simply cannot ride them like they used to. Pro punters examining recent videos are finding case after case of horses who might have done better with a few whacks of the whip. The main sufferers from the whip changes? PUNTERS! Horses that would have been winners before Aug 1 are now losing.'They are f

Some horses are going to the line in cruise mode because of the new whip rules. That's the opinion of several jockeys I've spoken to. They say they cannot give their mounts every chance because they simply cannot ride them like they used to. Pro punters examining recent videos are finding case after case of horses who might have done better with a few whacks of the whip. The main sufferers from the whip changes? PUNTERS! Horses that would have been winners before Aug 1 are now losing.

'They are forcing us to ride like pussycats,' says one well-known rider. 'It's going to be interesting in the spring...Especially in the big races. It's going to be a case I think of the whip rules costing someone a Melbourne Cup.'

Victorian stewards have panicked in handing out suspensions to jockeys who breach the new whip rules. That's the opinion of Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Des O'Keeffe. He warns that Thursday's appeal by three jockeys against suspensions stemming from the new whip rules may hold massive ramifications for riders. Dale Smith, Brad Rawiller and SA apprentice Lauren Stojakovic were all suspended for overuse of the whip on Sunday and Monday. Rawiller and Smith have appealed the severity of their penalties and Stojakovic has appealed her suspension. O'Keeffe says: 'It's fair to say the stewards have panicked a little bit...The penalty template was supposed to be used as a guideline only at this point before suspensions started coming in.'

Bad luck...Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort is injured and may be out of the spring racing. He pulled up with heat in a near side joint after a track gallop and will miss Sat's 3YO Vain Stakes (Listed).