Apprentice Lim Hock Kheng has failed in his appeal against a one-year disqualification over his handling of GREEN SUPPORTER in the Class 5, Div 1 - 1600m handicap at Kuala Lumpur on Aug 31.

The King of Kings six-year-old finished eighth to SPEEDY DRAGON during the professional/amateur meeting on Merdeka day.

At the conclusion of an inquiry on Set 4, Lim, in the presence of his master, trainer KH Lim and trainer Osman Sidek, was found guilty of a charge under MRA Rule 144(2) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his horse was given full opportunity of winning or obtaining the best possible placing in the race. The particulars of the charge were that after an awkward jump at the start and being slow to begin, he failed to endeavour to make up lost ground, and thereafter from approximately the 800m to 400m, he covered unnecessary ground and in the home straight, feigned the use of the whip on numerous occasions and failed to ride his mount with sufficient vigour and determination.

In terms of MRA Rule 144(5), he was disqualified for a period of 1 year.

Lim exercised his right of appeal which was heard by the Racing Stewards yesterday.