Star jockey Hugh Bowman has successfully appealed the severity of the suspensions stemming from his ride on Marmelo in last Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
Bowman was originally hit with a 35-meeting ban for three separate charges as he rode Marmelo to one-length second place behind Cross Counter.
At a hearing with the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday, he successfully had the length of each penalty reduced, bringing his total ban down to 23 meetings.
The reduced suspensions will now keep Bowman out until at least November 27, while he was initially set to be sidelined until December 8.
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While it is good news for the star hoop, it means he still won't be able to take a ride on Grand Cheval in the Japan Cup on November 25.
That pair combined to take out the prestigious race in 2017.
Bowman will now however be free to ride in the Longines International Jockey Championships in Hong Kong on December 5.
The first charge for careless riding occurred when Bowman shifted out at the 500m mark without being clear of Chestnut Coat, resulting in that horse being checked, that ban was reduced from 12 meetings to 10.
The second charge for excessive use of the whip prior to the 100m (seven more than the five that are permitted) originally earned him an eight-meeting suspension, that was changed to a $10,000 fine.
Bowman's final suspension was for weighing in more than half a kilo over his riding weight of 55 kilograms.
For that he was handed a 21-meeting ban, though the successful appeal on Tuesday saw that reduced to 13 meetings.
