At the conclusion of an inquiry yesterday, Zahra was found guilty of a charge of negligence under MRA Rule 53.(b)(i) as read with MRA Rule 166. The particulars of the charge were that he was negligent in that after finishing third on GOLD MINT in the fifth race at the Singapore Turf Club Meeting on Sunday, 3 April 2005, he failed to weigh in as required under the Rules.

When deciding on penalty, the Stewards took into account mitigating circumstances which included Zahra’s previous clean record, the fact that the race and the weigh-in was conducted in a very heavy downpour and, as a result, the weigh-in was shifted from outside to inside. Jockey Zahra had claimed that in his eight months of riding in Singapore, there had not been an occasion whereby he had to weigh-in anywhere other than outside. When he passed the weigh-in scales outside, everyone was gone and he presumed the weigh-in had been abandoned as all riders would be grossly overweight. In addition, there was no evidence to suggest that GOLD MINT did not carry the correct weight in the race nor was there any evidence to suggest foul play.

Jockey Zahra was suspended from riding in races for a period of one month with effect from this Saturday to Sunday, 8 May 2005 both dates inclusive. He was advised of his right of appeal.