Luke Nolen suspension reduced to 20 meetings, cleared for All-Star Mile

The Victorian Racing Tribunal has reduced Luke Nolen’s suspension from 24 meetings to 20, enabling the veteran jockey to take part in upcoming feature race days at Flemington and Morphettville. The reduction of four meetings on appeal means Nolen is eligible to ride in the All‑Star Mile on March 7 and the Adelaide Cup on March 9.

The sanction follows an incident at Pakenham on February 12, where Nolen pleaded guilty to a charge of improper riding after what was described as a heated exchange with fellow jockey Lachlan Neindorf beyond the winning post. Racing Victoria stewards originally imposed a 24‑meeting suspension after their inquiry into the Pakenham race.

Nolen appealed the severity of that penalty and, on appeal, successfully had four meetings deducted from the original sanction. “After appealing the severity of the penalty, Nolen successfully had four meetings deducted from the original sanction,” one report of the tribunal decision stated, and added that the adjustment clears him to ride at the All‑Star Mile at Flemington on March 7 and the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on March 9.

On his defence, Nolen maintained the contact with Neindorf’s mount was accidental. The Straight summarized his position: “The incident drew significant publicity, but Nolen maintained the contact with Neindorf’s mount was accidental. He said he had not meant any malice with his actions.” Nolen also pleaded guilty to the improper riding charge at the stewards’ hearing.

Stewards’ penalty considerations were outlined in a stewards’ report excerpt that was published alongside coverage of the case. “In assessing penalty, account was taken of his guilty plea, the circumstances surrounding the incident, his good record, the significant nature of the contact and the seriousness of the charge,” the report said. The stewards initially recorded the 24‑meeting suspension before the tribunal reduced it on appeal.

Additional race details reported by stewards include a dismissed objection to the declared winner. “Nolen first lodged an objection to The Benchmark being declared the winner on the grounds of alleged interference over the final 300m. However, this appeal was dismissed,” the stewards’ report noted, and it described how “Rounding the home turn, [The Benchmark] was bumped and carried wider by Irreverent, which shifted out to obtain clear running to the outside of Trentino.”

The Pakenham incident drew social media attention via a circulating race clip, and racing commentators noted the practical consequences of the tribunal decision for the autumn carnival. Punters observed that the reduction allows Nolen to ride in the All‑Star Mile after missing lucrative races earlier in the carnival under the original ban.

Racing Victoria and the Victorian Racing Tribunal have yet to publish the full written determination setting out the tribunal’s reasons and the exact dates that make up the 20‑meeting suspension. For now, the immediate operational outcome is clear: with the ban reduced to 20 meetings, Luke Nolen is eligible to be booked for two of the season’s highest‑profile spring features at Flemington and Morphettville.