Judge delivers sobering warning to banned jockey Jason Maskiell Jockey Jason Maskiell. Former gun apprentice Jason Maskiell was told he would end up "dead or in the gutter" if he did not beat his drug habit during his appeal against an 18-month disqualification for a failed drugs test. The warning came from Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board chairman Judge Russell Lewis, who cut Maskiell's 18-month disqualification by six months providing he does not commit a drug or alcohol-related offence under the rules of racing for the duration of his ban. He was also ordered to undergo counselling and treatment for his problem as well as comply with random urine sampling. Maskiell was banned from race riding until May 2015 after failing a urine test at Kyneton races on November 6. He admitted he had battled recreational use of the drug ice and was committed to getting his career and life back on track. Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Des O'Keeffe welcomed the softening of the penalty. "This is going to give him the further incentive he needs to help him do what he has to do to get back to being well," he said. They put an enormous amount of thought into creating a penalty that encourages him, as well as imposing a sanction on him. ■ Although the frustrating fortunes of group 1 winner Commanding Jewel continue, the mare is not yet out of the running for an autumn campaign as she continues her rehabilitation for a hoof injury. According to managing owner Brad Spicer, the mare is making steady progress and could race in Adelaide or Sydney. "She's not definitely out of the autumn, that's for sure," he said. She's back at the stables and is coming along slowly and we'll listen to her and if she's ready to go, we'll let her go. Also back in work is another headache horse, Spicer's 2012 South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire, who spent the spring on a cattle muster in the Kilmore hills. "We sent him back to nature to try and bring him back to his best," Spicer said.