Nicky Mackay vented his frustration at the Wolverhampton stewards after picking up a 10-day whip ban for winning aboard the particularly wayward Stars In Your Eyes.
There remains a simmering dissatisfaction in the weighing room over the lengthy suspensions applied to excessive use of the stick, and Mackay believed he had no alternative way of controlling his mount or preventing an accident.
John Gosden's filly, a daughter of the illustrious Galileo, was sent off the 1-2 favourite for the Enjoy The Horizons Restaurant Experience Maiden Stakes after three solid runs on the all-weather.
But there was immediate concern for her pilot when she nearly ran off the track on the bend entering the back straight.
It got no easier for Mackay when Stars In Your Eyes ran wide again on the home turn, crossing right the way over to the stands rail, and Mister Fizz managed to close to within a nose just by keeping straight.
It was Mackay's second such offence within 12 months, hence the severity of the punishment, and he must sit out February 27-29 as well March 1-3 and 5-8
"I feel there was nothing more I could do," he said.
"Obviously I have hit the horse 10 times but I thought I was in danger of going through the fence or something more serious happening.
"I don't know how serious it has to get for them to let you off. Do you have to go through the fence?
"I said (to the stewards) I was using my whip to correct my filly.
"Obviously you want to win, but when you get in a situation like that, safety comes first. They haven't looked at that I don't think."
He went on: "I was just getting myself going again and I've got 10 days and lost my prize-money. I knew that I'd gone over my limit, but I thought they'd overlook it.
"Obviously they haven't and I'm very disappointed. They all sit there writing out days but half of them haven't sat on a horse.
"I don't know (about lodging an appeal). Nine times out of 10 you go down there and nothing happens, so I'll talk to the boss."
Explaining their methods, stipendiary steward Simon Cowley said: "The problem is the use of the whip didn't stop the filly from drifting.
"They were difficult circumstances but if the whip isn't working we like jockeys to do something else. We did use some discretion and reduced the whip tally by one (saving what would have been a 14-day ban) but the penalty is five days, and because it's his second offence within 12 months, it is doubled."
Darren Egan, rider of the runner-up, has had several run-ins with officialdom of late and was banned for (March 2-3 and 5-6) for the same reason. The promising apprentice also picked up whip suspensions on two occasions at the same track last week.
Even a grey day at Dunstall Park was far rosier for Joe Fanning as a treble took him three clear of Luke Morris in the battle for the all-weather championship.
Fanning, the king of the sand two years ago before losing the title to Morris last season, keeps things remarkably simple and his logical approach even helped Canadian Danehill (17-2) end his long wait for another win in the Bet At Blue Square Handicap.
Robert Cowell's sprinter remains a great Wolverhampton favourite - now successful at the course six times, but he had not put his head in front since July 2009 at Newmarket.
Cowell's representative Greg Chung said: "He has his quirks and has come down a long way (in the handicap), but he's shown he's still capable.
"He has been an asset at home and often plays a role in educating the youngsters, but has shown he can still pay his way."
Fanning used to partner Hinton Admiral (2-1) for his main employer Mark Johnston and they made it five wins together since the gelding moved to Keith Dalgleish in the wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Selling Stakes.
Fanning's treble was completed for Johnston in the Sponsor A Race By Calling 01902 390000 Handicap as Enery (5-4 favourite) turned a corner from his string of placed efforts when in the care of Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Kieren Fallon helped Berlusca (100-30) to land the Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Handicap with a little in hand, with Russ Kennemore producing Piccolo Express (11-1) in good time for the Play Bingo Free At bluesq.com Handicap.
