🔥 BREAKING: Silvestre de Sousa officially BANNED after violent clash with Oisin Murphy in Royal Hunt Cup chaos!
The Royal Ascot 2025 has delivered no shortage of drama, but nothing compares to the stunning scenes that unfolded during the Royal Hunt Cup on Day 2. In an extraordinary turn of events, renowned jockey Silvestre de Sousa has been officially banned from further participation at this year’s festival after a violent on-track clash with fellow jockey Oisin Murphy. The chaos has sent shockwaves through the racing world, leaving fans divided, officials scrambling, and the sport’s reputation once again dragged into controversy.
It all started as the field thundered towards the final furlongs of the prestigious Royal Hunt Cup, one of the crown jewels of Royal Ascot’s racing card. De Sousa, riding the eventual winner My Cloud, had maneuvered aggressively throughout the final stretch, weaving between rivals with bold intent. However, it was a critical move just inside the final furlong that ignited one of the fiercest controversies in recent Royal Ascot history.
Oisin Murphy, riding the heavily-backed Greek Order, was seen making his charge on the outside, poised to challenge for the win. As Murphy angled his mount to find clear running room, de Sousa appeared to shift My Cloud abruptly across the path of Greek Order, causing contact that sent shockwaves through the grandstands. What followed was chaos: Murphy visibly lost momentum, Greek Order faltered, and My Cloud surged forward to claim an upset victory.
The post-race reaction was immediate and ferocious. Footage of the incident circulated within minutes, and racing fans across social media platforms were quick to demand answers. Phrases like “daylight robbery,” “dangerous riding,” and “should be banned for life” dominated online discussions. What made matters worse was the live camera feed catching an explosive verbal confrontation between Murphy and de Sousa shortly after the finish. Although the audio was muted, body language spoke volumes: pointing fingers, aggressive gestures, and a near-physical escalation that required stewards and fellow jockeys to intervene.
Royal Ascot stewards convened an emergency inquiry less than an hour after the race. For those who know British flat racing, these inquiries are typically long, methodical, and cautious — but not this time. The verdict was swift and brutal. Silvestre de Sousa, despite being a past champion and a respected figure in global racing, was slapped with an immediate suspension from the remainder of Royal Ascot 2025. Officials cited “dangerous riding with disregard for the safety of competitors” as the key reason for the ban, emphasizing that the decision was made to protect the integrity of the sport.
Oisin Murphy, visibly furious but composed in his post-race interview, didn’t mince his words. “This isn’t the racing we want to be remembered for,” he stated. “It’s one thing to ride aggressively; it’s another thing entirely to compromise the safety of other jockeys and horses. What happened out there could’ve ended much worse.”
For de Sousa, the ban is a bitter blow, not just reputationally but financially. Missing out on potential winnings, appearance fees, and the prestige of riding at Ascot will sting for years to come. What makes the incident even more controversial is that, despite the penalty, the result of the race stands. My Cloud’s name will remain etched as the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup 2025 — a decision that only adds more fuel to the fire for those calling for deeper investigations into race officiating standards.
As the fallout continues, fans, pundits, and racing insiders are left asking: has Royal Ascot witnessed one of its darkest days, or is this just another chapter in the long history of racing drama? Either way, this incident will be talked about for years, and the bitter rivalry between de Sousa and Murphy has now reached an entirely new level.
