Ed Dunlop was left fuming after an obscure French rule prevented Snow Fairy from running in Sunday’s Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.
The Newmarket trainer wanted to send last year’s dual Classic winner across the Channel after withdrawing her from the Yorkshire Oaks because of the ground.
“It’s extremely annoying. We weren’t made aware of the rule,” Dunlop said.
“Having watched the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday I was thrilled I didn’t run her because of the ground. It was a real stamina slog.
“This race on Sunday was over a mile and a quarter (2000m) for fillies and has been recently upgraded to a Group One.
“There are no other races like that left in the calendar and I’m very disappointed for the filly.
“We believe a French trainer has complained about what we have done. The law is there, but we weren’t aware of it and weren’t told of it at declaration time.
“We didn’t know anything about it until yesterday afternoon.”
There is just a field of five now for the Romanet, including one British raider, the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Timepiece, winner of the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last month.
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