Josh Parr rode the Australian favourite Overpass to finish third in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes but stewards took exception to the ride

A top Australian jockey has been hit with a whopping Royal Ascot whip ban.

Josh Parr, a leading rider in Sydney, New South Wales, had never ridden in Britain before but made his debut at Royal Ascot. He made the trip over as the regular rider of Overpass, a ten race winner who had amassed more than £6.7 million in career earnings, and was a first runner for Bjorn Baker.

Respect for Australian-trained sprinters was such that Overpass went off the 100-30 favourite for the 5f race to join the list of other former winners of the race from down under.

The seven-year-old gave a good account of himself, racing up with the pace throughout to finish third, a length behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained and Ryan Moore-ridden Mission Central.

His connections will roll the dice again after declaring Overpass to run in the 6f Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

However Parr discovered after the race that the Ascot stewards had taken exception to his use of the whip and referred him to the BHA Whip Review Committee for further consideration.

The panel met on Friday and decided he had breached the whip rules for which he was given a 20 day ban.

The notice said: “Joshua Parr, the rider of OVERPASS (USA), placed third, was found to have used his whip three times above the permitted level of six from approximately one and a half furlongs out.

“Taking into account that this was a Class 1 race, the penalty in respect of being above the permitted level was doubled.

“He will be suspended for 20 days as follows; Friday 03 to Saturday 11 July 2026, inclusive, Monday 13 to Thursday 23 July 2026, inclusive and he will be fined £1,250.”

His was the most severe penalty from the first three days of the royal meeting.

Other riders to be suspended were Wayne Lordan (four days) on Coventry winner Greaet Barrier Reef, Joey Sheridan (seven) on Ascot Stakes winner Kizlyar, and Rossa Ryan (three) on Copper Horse Stakes winner Daiquiri Bay.

Wesley Joyce also picked up five days while top California jockey Juan Hernandez received a seven day ban.