Ben Allen Suspended for Melbourne Cup Whip Breach

Ben Allen has been fined $5,000 and suspended for 16 meetings after Racing Victoria stewards found he breached the whip rules on Royal Supremacy, the tearaway leader who finished fifth in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

Allen pleaded guilty to breaching AR132(7)(a)(ii) after using the whip on 10 occasions before the 100-metre mark, double the number allowed, the Herald Sun reported. 7NEWS reported he used the whip 12 times in total.

The suspension begins on Friday 6 November, and the 27-year-old will be free to return to riding on Friday 20 November, according to the Herald Sun. He can still ride on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, 7NEWS said.

Royal Supremacy led by 20 lengths

Royal Supremacy, a five-year-old gelding trained by Ciaron Maher, was a big outsider, priced at $51 by some bookmakers, news.com.au reported. He sped to the front and led by as much as 20 lengths with about a kilometre to run, before the field closed in and he faded over the final 150 metres to finish fifth.

Point Of Law, another Maher runner, won the race from stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo, giving Maher the first trifecta by a trainer in the Melbourne Cup’s history. Read the full result in our Melbourne Cup report.

What Allen told the stewards

Allen’s ride sparked debate about whether Royal Supremacy was used to set up the race for his stablemates, as pacemakers are not allowed under Australian rules of racing. The Herald Sun reported that stewards found nothing untoward about the tactics.

“Allen explained that the primary plan was to ride the horse with cover behind the leader, which he expected to be Kizlyar … When Kizlyar did not muster speed as he expected, rather than restrain his mount, he allowed the horse to stride forward and lead,” the stewards said, as quoted by the Herald Sun.

“Allen added that previously Royal Supremacy raced successfully when leading at Eagle Farm on 13 June 2026, so he was not concerned when he was unable to obtain cover,” the stewards said. “Allen added that he expressed surprise at how far in front he was, as he felt the sectionals he set were not quick.”

‘Very game in defeat’

Speaking after the race, Allen said leading by so far had not been the plan. “He’s very tough. I was surprised when I looked back how far off they were as I didn’t think we’d gone that sort of gallop but he was very tough. The way he ran it he ran a strong two-mile. Very game in defeat,” he said, as quoted by 7NEWS.

Zac Lloyd, who rode co-favourite Hopewell Rock into ninth, said the rest of the field went slowly. “(It was a) bit of a non-event. They went ridiculously slow bar the leader and I was just a fraction on the bridle throughout. When they quickened they left him flatfooted but I thought he went well up the straight,” Lloyd said, according to the Herald Sun.

Maher said he had not expected Royal Supremacy to get so far in front. “I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would lead by that far, but there’s nothing better than a true staying test,” he said, 7NEWS reported.

The Flemington carnival continues on Thursday with the VRC Oaks. See the full Oaks field and barriers.