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Bernard Fayd’Herbe is free to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, despite facing a lengthy suspension dished out by Mauritius stewards. (Hamish Niven Photography).

 

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is free to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He spoke on social media on Tuesday of the privilege of landing the July ride on the Justin Snaith-trained Pomp And Power.

He also thanked his Mauritian employers for allowing him the ride and said he would have many loyal Mauritius fans following him and he hoped to make them proud.

Fayd’Herbe has won the big race twice, on the great Mike Bass-trained Pocket Power, who dead-heated for first in 2008, and on the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Marinaresco in 2017.

Fayd’Herbe was recently handed a one year suspension by the Mauritian Authorities, who apparently have strict rules about riding horses with necessary vigour and in their opinion he did not do so when riding a horse called Castle Of Glass, who finished a short-head second to a horse who had shortened dramatically in the betting.

However, it seems that he has been granted permission to ride while waiting for an appeal process to be completed.

The incident occurred on May 13 and he was riding at a meeting as recently as June 3.

One of the ironies of the severe suspension imposed on Fayd’Herbe is that he had been in devastating form.

In his three meetings prior to the May 13 meeting he had had eight wins in eleven rides, including a perfect four-timer on 29 April.

In his immediate rides after the incident he had two wins in three rides.

His form has understandably tailed off since hearing of the suspension.

The best tonic for the gifted rider now would be to go and win the July.