UPDATE
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Racing Victoria stewards have fined Ballarat trainer/jockey Michelle Payne $1000 for comments she posted on Twitter on Tuesday.
They handed down the fine after interviewing Payne on Wednesday morning.
The comments were subsequent to Brae Sokolski, managing owner of Thought of That, announcing that Mark Zahra had been selected to ride the colt in Saturday's group 1 Victoria Derby in place of Linda Meech.
A Racing Victoria statement said Payne had pleaded guilty to Australian Rule of Rule Racing 228 (d).
The rule states: "A person must not engage in publishing or posting on any social media platform or channel any material, content or comment that is obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or abusive to or about any other person involved in the racing industry.
RV said that stewards found Payne's comments to be offensive towards Sokolski when she stated "not for the public to decide, but the public can recognise you as a pig".
Stewards handed down the penalty after consdering Payne's guilty plea and her prior offences.
EARLIER
Premier Victorian jockey Linda Meech has been sensationally sacked from Victoria Derby second favourite Thought Of That in a decision described by Melbourne Cup-winning rider Michelle Payne as "heartbreaking".
The decision was lambasted on social media after it was announced that Mark Zahra would take over on Thought Of That in the Victoria Derby because of his big-race experience.
To make matters worse, Meech rode Thought Of That in his final gallop yesterday before being given the bitter blow.
Managing owner Brae Sokolski admitted "it should have been handled better" but stood by his captain's call to dump Meech.
Sokolski said the decision was made on Monday night and conveyed to Thought Of That's trainer Ciaron Maher.
"The decision was made on Monday night and Ciaron was told, so it wasn't ideal that Linda would ride him on Tuesday morning," Sokolski said. "Mark was available to be there for the gallop.
"We had to make the right decision for the horse and my owners, and we felt Mark was the best rider."
We knew it wasnt going to be popular but, in these big races, a jockey can be the difference.
- Brae Sokolski
Maher had spoken highly of Meech's partnership with the front-running stayer and how she suited the horse.
"It was the owners' choice," Maher said on Tuesday.
Meech has been on Thought Of That for an eight-length win in a Donald maiden followed by the a 33/4-length romp in the group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m). Both times she controlled the pace before delivering a belting to rivals, and it had made Thought Of That the $4.20 second pick for the Derby behind Sydney trainer Mark Newnham's group 1 Spring Champion winner Shadow Hero.
The sacking of Meech from Thought Of That shows once again the nature of racing for female jockeys.
Payne, who famously told critics after her historic Cup win on Prince Of Penzance in 2015 to "get stuffed'', labelled the owner "a pig" before deleting the tweet but followed up with support for Meech.
The horse has been ridden to perfection and looks unbeatable. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity for Linda. Shes earnt it.
- Michelle Payne
"I'm not going to complain for every jockey. I've shared a jockeys room with Linda for nearly 20 years. She deserved this opportunity. It's heartbreaking," Payne tweeted.
"It's so disappointing. But even more so when the horse has been ridden to perfection and looks unbeatable. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for Linda. She's earnt it.''
Meech last year won the Victoria premiership by 25 wins but has found it hard to get group 1 rides.
Meech has had a long association with several big stables, particularly Peter Moody of Black Caviar fame, who found out about the decision in a text from from her.
"She is just gutted. She has won the last two on him and ridden him perfect. She got on him this morning and felt she could win a Derby," Moody said. "Five minutes later, she is off.
Linda is as good a judge of pace as there is and I think she would have got the job done.
- Peter Moody
"The owners have a right to choose who they want, but Linda is as good a judge of pace as there is and I think she would have got the job done."
Meech won the group 1 2015 Coolmore Classic on Plucky Belle but has only had had 23 group 1 rides in her career. Zahra has won 15 group 1s from 268 attempts.
Brae Sokolski spoke on RSN on Wednesday morning regarding Payne's comments.
"You're entitled to an opinion. You are not entitled to challenge the right of an owner to make that decision," he said.
"You are not entitled to accuse or imply insidious motives for that decision without any evidence. I've spent my life building a reputation in the business and racing communities for acting with integrity. To have this reputation sullied by a reckless act is deeply upsetting."
- with The Age