Jockey B N Shahrul has failed in his appeal against a 12-month disqualification meted out by the Stipendiary Stewards over his handling of NORTH EMPEROR in a Class 4, Div 2 - 1400m handicap at Ipoh on Feb 26, 2005.

The Stewards on March 3 concluded their inquiry into the running and handling of the horse, trained by Lee Yong Bill.

Shahrul was found guilty to a charge of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that NORTH EMPEROR was given full opportunity of winning or of obtaining the best possible placing under MRA Rule 144(2).

The particulars being:

1. That on jumping and in the early stages, he unduly restrained NORTH EMPEROR, losing a favourable position.

2. That from the 1200m to the 950m, he restrained his mount and failed to take up an opportunity which was available to improve and occupy a position on the back of HOMBRE.

3. For some distance approaching the 800m, he continued to restrain his mount and as a result, BALUNA PARK, which was racing to his outside, was able to cross him onto the fence, thereby causing him to check off the heels of that runner. As a consequent, NORTH EMPEROR raced further back than was necessary.

4. From about the 700m lo the home turn, did fail to make sufficient effort to improve his position along the inside rail up onto the back of BALUNA PARK when it was reasonable and permissible to do so.

5. During the home straight, he rode in the circumstances, with insufficient and inadequate vigour in that:

(a) between 350m to the finish, he failed to ride his mount fully when riding with the whip in his left hand.

(b) failed to pull the whip through at any stage of the race into his right hand whereby he would be able to fully and vigorously test NORTH EMPEROR in the home straight.

Shahrul was disqualified from racing for a period of twelve months with immediate effect.

Trainer YB Lee advised that the instructions were to have NORTH EMPEROR in a midfield position, however, given the circumstances, he expressed general dissatisfaction with the ride.