3/02/2008 12:30:00 PM
The past 24 hours for everyone concerned with group winning mare Gold Edition has obviously been disappointing but for her jockey in the Lightning Stakes, Stathi Katsidis it's all ended in turmoil.
After riding Gold Edition on Saturday at Flemington, Katisdis flew back to Brisbane before Queensland Police pulled him over for a roadside test near his hometown of Toowoomba. While Katsidis blew four times the legal limit, his troubles were far from over.
A rocky weekend for top Brisbane jockey - from 927
Stathi Katsidis
APOLOGETIC jockey Stathi Katsidis said yesterday he would defend drugs charges but plead guilty to drink-driving after being jailed on the weekend.
Katsidis, 29, said he started drinking on a flight back from Melbourne to Brisbane after riding Gold Edition to fourth place in Saturday's Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
"I had a few drinks on the plane, some wine. I arrived back in Brisbane and I was met at the airport and driven back to Toowoomba," Katsidis said yesterday.
"I had another three cans of vodka in the car and I had been wasting. I was on my way to an awards night for my (boxer) brother Michael.
"I am sorry I got behind the wheel, but there were other people in the car with me.
"It was not a random breath test. My car was pulled over by the police. They said it was on suspicion of something."
Katsidis recorded more than three times the legal limit with a blood alcohol reading of .163.
Police searched the car and are believed to have found ecstasy and steroids. Katsidis said they did not belong to him.
Katsidis said he was upset after Gold Edition pulled up sore in the Lightning. "You have seen the way she tries. It was heartbreaking. I was very down," he said.
He spent the night in the Toowoomba lockup and his grandmother signed him out on Sunday at 6am, then took him home.
Katsidis rode at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and was surprised when he saw Sydney chief steward Ray Murrihy appear with testing equipment.
"They tell me he (Murrihy) is in Brisbane for a stewards' conference. I could not believe it when he appeared," Katsidis said. "They tested me for drugs and they won't find any because I did not take any.
"They also tested me for alcohol and I was clear. Everyone has been very supportive.
"Half the boys in the (jockeys') room have been done for drink-driving. I will just have to find someone to drive me."
Katsidis plans to ride at Ipswich tomorrow and has taken six rides at Morphettville on Saturday, including high-class performer Gabbidon.
His manager Trevor Lanskey said the jockey would ride at 53kg, his lightest weight.
Queensland Racing spokesman Mal Tuttle said no action would be taken against Katsidis before the Toowoomba Magistrates' Court hearing on February 19.
Katsidis has been charged with two counts of possessing a dangerous drug and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Katsidis, 29, said he started drinking on a flight back from Melbourne to Brisbane after riding Gold Edition to fourth place in Saturday's Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
"I had a few drinks on the plane, some wine. I arrived back in Brisbane and I was met at the airport and driven back to Toowoomba," Katsidis said yesterday.
"I had another three cans of vodka in the car and I had been wasting. I was on my way to an awards night for my (boxer) brother Michael.
"I am sorry I got behind the wheel, but there were other people in the car with me.
"It was not a random breath test. My car was pulled over by the police. They said it was on suspicion of something."
Katsidis recorded more than three times the legal limit with a blood alcohol reading of .163.
Police searched the car and are believed to have found ecstasy and steroids. Katsidis said they did not belong to him.
Katsidis said he was upset after Gold Edition pulled up sore in the Lightning. "You have seen the way she tries. It was heartbreaking. I was very down," he said.
He spent the night in the Toowoomba lockup and his grandmother signed him out on Sunday at 6am, then took him home.
Katsidis rode at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and was surprised when he saw Sydney chief steward Ray Murrihy appear with testing equipment.
"They tell me he (Murrihy) is in Brisbane for a stewards' conference. I could not believe it when he appeared," Katsidis said. "They tested me for drugs and they won't find any because I did not take any.
"They also tested me for alcohol and I was clear. Everyone has been very supportive.
"Half the boys in the (jockeys') room have been done for drink-driving. I will just have to find someone to drive me."
Katsidis plans to ride at Ipswich tomorrow and has taken six rides at Morphettville on Saturday, including high-class performer Gabbidon.
His manager Trevor Lanskey said the jockey would ride at 53kg, his lightest weight.
Queensland Racing spokesman Mal Tuttle said no action would be taken against Katsidis before the Toowoomba Magistrates' Court hearing on February 19.
Katsidis has been charged with two counts of possessing a dangerous drug and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.