Champion jockey Douglas Whyte might pay a high price for his hit-and-run tour to Tokyo yesterday for the Tenno-Sho after his mount was relegated for causing interference in the final stages.
Whyte missed the Happy Valley fixture to ride Jaguar Mail in the rich Group One race and spent much of the event tracking Christophe Soumillon on the favourite, champion mare Buena Vista.
As the race changed complexion in the last 300m and faced with a wall of contenders ahead of him, Whyte turned back towards the inside rail on Jaguar Mail looking for clear running and severe interference to Cosmo Phantom was the outcome.
Japanese officials later demoted Jaguar Mail to last in the race finishing positions as a result, although there was no news available last night about whether the Durban Demon will also face a suspension.
Buena Vista ran out the easiest of winners at the end of the 2,000m to lay her Japan Cup cards on the table.
Although the main event got away, Whyte's trip was not a complete loss, with the South African landing a winner at Kyoto on Saturday, when Tokyo racing was cancelled due to typhoon activity, and riding a winner on the supporting card yesterday.
