Controversy closed the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival after Stephen Connor appeared to ease up prematurely aboard Royal Hillsborough, allowing Moonverrin to snatch victory in the final strides.
Connor and the Stuart Crawford-trained Royal Hillsborough, sent out at 9-1, looked set to record a first win under rules in the 2m mares’ bumper as they surged between Moonverrin and Tiktok Casey inside the final furlong.
Significant support followed Royal Hillsborough in running, with €11,179 matched at 1.01 on Betfair, however Connor appeared to stop riding before the line, enabling Finny Maguire to rally Moonverrin and claim a short-head victory at 20-1 for trainer Martin Hassett.
Tiktok Casey finished a further length and a half away in third.
Connor later explained to the clerk of the scales that he had mistaken the 50-yard marker for the winning post after glancing at the big screen.
Following a stewards’ inquiry, Connor was handed a 14-day suspension for his actions in the closing stages of the race.