• South African rider was filmed hitting horse in a race in Australia • Dylan Caboche was struggling to get horse into the stalls at Port Lincoln

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The South African apprentice jockey Dylan Caboche has apologised for punching a horse before a race in Australia. The rider has been suspended for two weeks over the incident which happened in Port Lincoln on Wednesday.

Caboche was trying to guide his mount, Reneldsagirl, into the stalls but was struggling and dismounted before hitting the horse in the ribs.

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“I want to genuinely, sincerely and unreservedly apologise to everyone for my actions. I understand what I did was completely unacceptable. My apology goes to the horse’s connections, my fellow jockeys, Thoroughbred Racing SA, the racing public and to the wider community in general,” Caboche said.

“Any explanation dealing with why it happened can’t possibly condone what I did. I’m just so disappointed in myself. I understand and accept that no matter how difficult my mount was, it can’t justify what I did.”