(Rod Gallegos is a leading commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

"Curiouser and Curiouser", or so said Alice In Wonderland and you couldn't be blamed for applying this English language licence to the current controversial whip rule.

At Rosehill on Saturday, Jim Cassidy was hit with a five-week suspension for two separate charges of whipping actions deemed to contravene the current rules. Five weeks! That really does indicate how seriously the stewards view the offence.

It is no secret that I rate the whip rule to be a chapter in the aforementioned Alice In Wonderland. A bit of the Mad Hatter, at least.

My point succinctly is this: a jockey is being punished for trying his best to win a race. The punishment, on occasions, may not be too much more than the penalty for contravening that rather quaint present-day rule: The rider of every horse shall take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that his horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.

Without seeming to be beating the Jim Cassidy drum, on top of the five meeting suspension, which effectively cuts off the jockey's capacity to earn a living for the tenure of the term, he was fined $200 on a separate whip charge.

On the same race program, two jockeys were fined sums of $400 and $500 for failing to ride their mounts right out to the line!

Cassidy was punished, in my opinion, extremely severely, for riding too hard to the line.

As I say -- curiouser and curiouser.

***** 

ON a happier note regarding jockeys, Craig Williams emerged from the past weekend at Sandown with not only his reputation intact, but even enhanced.

Like Cassidy, he rode four winners.

Williams was resuming from a term of suspension that cost him the Melbourne Cup because he had been booked to ride subsequent winner, Dunaden.

The professionalism of Williams is worth noting because he didn't sulk or whinge with a "woe is me attitude". When he failed at appeal he copped it sweet and answered the best way he could with a faultless riding display last Saturday.

***** 

THE highlight meeting this weekend is in Perth at Ascot with the Group One double of the Railway Stakes and Winterbottom Stakes.

In the Railway, Playing God deserves another chance. He was disappointing in four Melbourne starts during the Spring Carnival but he has excellent credentials in the west.

It is worth remembering last year when he was at this peak he reeled off wins in the WA Guineas and the Group One Kingston Town Classic.

In the Winterbottom Stakes it's hard to see Ortensia being beaten in the light of her excellent return to form at Flemington on the final day of the carnival. She also has won previously in the west.

***** 

APPRENTICE Josh Adams has quickly shed the problems of the past and confirmed his comeback to racing in the most positive manner.

He should continue making progress at Warwick Farm on Saturday. He has rides in six of the eight races and one of his likely winners may be the Patinack Farm mare, Off And Laughing.

The appropriateness of the name aside, she has excellent credentials coming off success in Victoria. When resuming from a break she was a tidy third at Moonee Valley in a 1100 metre race and only slight improvement is required for her to make a winning impression at Warwick Farm.