De Sousa suspended but can ride in Cup

On the day he is officially crowned champion jockey for a third time, Silvestre de Sousa will begin a lengthy suspension, one that crucially ends in time for him to be available to ride Withhold in the Melbourne Cup.

De Sousa will miss Champions Day at Ascot after receiving an 18-day suspension with six days deferred.

He was outed under the totting up rule for using his whip more than allowed on too many occasions with a six-month period.

De Sousa has been booked for the Roger Charlton-trained Withhold in the Melbourne Cup on November 6 but the horse still has to make the field.

The Geelong Cup is an option for Withhold to get a penalty to rise up the order of entry.

"There were a few rides at Ascot on the cards, but the main thing now is getting him out to Hong Kong so he can get there and ride on the 4th, which is a big meeting," de Sousa's agent Shelley Dwyer said.

."Of course the Melbourne Cup was playing on our minds as well.

"As much as it is a pain missing Champions Day, it is what it is.

"He's lined up for Withhold in the Melbourne Cup, so we just hope he gets in. There is a back-up, but we'll just have to see."