PUNTERS cried ‘cheat’ as Kieran Shoemark was denied a fairytale win after a controversial stewards’ enquiry – that saw bookies pay out on the runner-up.
It looked like Shoemark, who earlier in the week , had won the French 1000 Guineas on syndicate horse Shes Perfect.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained filly, sent off 18-1, rallied strongly in the final furlong-and-a-half after being headed when it got to crunch time.
She was first past the post and appeared to have nabbed the £250,000 first-place prize by a nose at Longchamp racecourse in Paris.
Photos were even taken of overjoyed connections celebrating their big win.
Until a stewards’ enquiry was launched soon after the finish following an objection from former Derby-winning rider Mickael Barzalona, jockey of runner-up Zarigana.
It was tricky to see with the naked eye in real time, but, despite Shoemark doing all he could to keep Shes Perfect on a true line, she edged to her left.
That sparked a domino effect that saw Ryan Moore on Exactly short of room, bumping into the path of 4-5 fav Zarigana, who ran in the famous Aga Khan silks forever associated with Shergar.
Incredibly, Barzalona also dropped his whip, meaning he resorted to smacking his filly with his hand for the final, crucial few yards.
Zarigana was forced off her true line ever so slightly – whether it was enough to make a difference to the result is a topic of hot debate.
But stewards clearly thought it was, ultimately deciding to demote Shes Perfect to second and a cheque of ‘only’ £100,000.
Punters were up in arms over the decision, with a report from the course saying the owners were left ‘visibly shaken’.
To his credit, Zarigana’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said it was not the way he wanted to win.
But the result ultimately stood, robbing Fellowes of his first Group 1, the British syndicate a dream win and Shoemark redemption after the week from hell.
Fellowes said: “We came so close. It’s heartbreaking because I really needed a big win. Winning a Classic – that’s the dream of my life.”;;
While Graffard said: “We don’t like winning races this way, and I feel sorry for the Shes Perfect team.
“But this is racing. To be honest, my filly was unbalanced at the worst possible moment, and at the end, we’re only talking about a nose.
“I’m really happy for Zarigana.
“But it’s hard to feel joy, I feel more relief.”;;
A report in the Racing Post said cries of ‘cheat’ and ‘disgrace’ rang around the winner’s enclosure afterwards.
While a load of punters were up in arms at the result afterwards – although others thought the reversal of places was justified.
Those punters who bet on the race with Paddy Power and BoyleSports were winners either way, as they paid out as winners both Zarigana and Shes Perfect.
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