Stewards have had to decide the winners of Group One races on both sides of the Irish Sea with differing outcomes.
Melbourne Cup entrant Bondi Beach was promoted to first in the St Leger at Doncaster after suffering interference from Simple Verse while Golden Horn survived an inquiry to retain the Irish Champion Stakes.
Simple Verse crossed the line a head in front of Bondi Beach but there was an immediate inquiry into two incidents of interference inside the final quarter-mile (400m).
After the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bondi Beach was declared the winner, Simple Verse’s trainer Ralph Beckett announced he would appeal the decision.
“I’m astonished, apart from anything else. There’s no consistency in the rules,” Beckett said.
“Can you honestly say that it was entirely her fault?
“We will appeal this. That’s all I’ve got to say on the matter.”
Just last month, the Beckett-trained Secret Gesture was demoted from first to third in the Beverly D Stakes in Chicago.
At Leopardstown, Golden Horn booked his ticket to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in a dramatic Irish Champion Stakes.
The John Gosden-trained colt veered across from the far rail inside the final furlong (200m), bumping into Free Eagle who was making a strong challenge.
There was no time for Free Eagle to regain his momentum and Golden Horn, the 5-4 favourite, got home in front of Found with Free Eagle third.
“The shadow of the grandstand caught him (when he jinked to his right). There was a photographer standing there and didn’t know how marked it was at that exact point,” Gosden said.
“It caught him and he ran right across the shadow of the grandstand.”
