Equinties - stays in France

Gm Equinauts

There have been few appeals in horse racing that have gathered as much attention as the one for this year’s French 1000 Guineas.

The manner of the stewards’ decision is one reason why, but there is a bigger element at play here as to why this has occurred.

Racing X.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

THE APPEAL

From Mick Fitzgerald’s analysis of the rear-view camera angle to Matt Chapman’s pleading on Racing X, syndicate manager Watts’ drip feed of internal emotion via posts on socials to probably the worst and definitely the most cringe form of banter from a low level, green eyed ‘syndicate owner’ we’ve ever seen…

… it’s safe to say the sheer outreach of this appeal on social media has been huge.

Well, the result of the appeal came in yesterday, and the odds-on shot landed, ZARIGANA is still the French 1000 Guineas winner for 2025.

Ultimately, with the knowledge of how French stewards are with interference, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

The main argument being used to back up SHES PERFECT was the rearview camera angle, which was reportedly not available to the on-course French stewards at the time.

Although that camera angle may depict SHES PERFECT in a better light regarding her veering to the left, it still shows that she did to some degree, and when the losing margin is a nose, that has surely had an effect.

Furthermore, if you want to get really picky, to the point of almost being an anorak, the rearview camera is towards the right of SHES PERFECT and is not dead level. If it was dead level, your eye would have better depth perception of how far she moved out to her left, much like the front-facing camera gives.

Anyway, her connections didn’t win the appeal. The decision was ultimately a harsh one, but we can see why it was made, so fair enough.

Looking to the future, connections shouldn’t be too down on themselves, as there are plenty of Group 1s to eye up. She even has an entry in the Arc!

Her trainer, Charlie Fellowes, said: "I never held a huge amount of hope that the decision would get overturned. Deep down there's always that glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, and so obviously I’m gutted.

"I think it was a very tough decision, a real 50-50 call. The head-on angle was very much against us but I think the angles from behind and above were very much for us.

"One thing I can very safely say is that the owners will 100 per cent go back to France if we decide that’s the right race. There’s no bitterness at all towards anyone. We want to do what’s best by our filly and if we decide that the Diane is best for her, that's where we’ll go.

"I know it was an incredibly difficult decision and it’s not going to put me off racing in France.”

So, it’s either the Prix de Diane or the Coronation Stakes next for SHES PERFECT. 1m2f at Chantilly or 1m at Royal Ascot. Tough one really, but she is by SIOUX NATION from a speedy family. She was keen enough in the early parts of the French 1000, though she did stick on very well having made the pace.
She could stay 1m2f, but the Coronation could be safer.

MULLINS AGAIN

Do you know the name Toby Bulgin? Even though he trained his first horse in the 1988-89 season, we won’t hold it against you if you don’t recognise the name immediately.

Yes, he trained his first horse in the late 80s, but he didn’t get his first winner until 2021 when training LUCKOFTHEDRAW to win a 2m3f handicap chase at Fontwell.

A shocking stat until you realise that’s not because he is a bad trainer; it’s simply because he stopped training horses between 1889 and 2021

Anyway, why are we mentioning this little story? Well, the Lambourn-based operator found himself in the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure when POETISA won a competitive mares’ bumper at Cheltenham in April at odds of 20/1.

By POET’S WORD out of the OLD VIC mare CHARS, making her a half-sister to the Grade 2 winner QUEENOHEATS, she was bought by Bulgin 12 months ago for £42,000.

Well, connections have just sold the four-year-old for £300,000 to, yes, that man Willie Mullins, with Harold Kirk doing the signing on behalf of the Closutton operator.

According to Toby’s wife, Nicola, Mr Mullins had already been on the phone to ask about the mare, and Nicky Henderson, the underbidder, had been down a few times to see her, so connections knew they were going to get a very fair price for her when she went under the hammer yesterday afternoon.

But £300,000 – that is a lot!

Alas, she’s now with Mullins, she’ll be plotted along the standard hurdles route for mares, and she’s certainly received plenty of plaudits from Kirk.

He said: “I thought she was gorgeous. She’s by a promising young sire and out of an Old Vic mare. She’s a Cheltenham winner already and she’ll only improve. She was very classy when she won. She’s a lovely mare and hopefully she’ll go down the mares’ route over hurdles as there’s a big programme for these mares now. 

“She just looked like she had a lot of class. As an individual she’s got loads of quality and a great mind. Everybody wants a Cheltenham winner. Okay, it wasn’t at the festival but she can do no more than what she’s done.”

She looked good on her debut at Cheltenham, and she’ll be better. Eyes on.

SHADWELL FILLIES

It’s all a bit up in the air as to whether FALAKEYAH, the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes winner, will run in the Epsom Oaks. The form of her success at Newmarket has received a form boost thanks to QILIN QUEEN, and she looked rather good at the start of the season.

Well, the official line from Owen Burrows is certainly ambiguous.

He said: “Both the Oaks, French and English, are still under consideration. She’s obviously a very exciting filly and we just want to make sure we get it right with her.
“Whether it’s the English or French Oaks is up for discussion, one’s on the sixth of June and one is the 15th, so we’ve a couple of weeks still to decide.

“We’re still discussing whether we think a mile and a half will be too far at this stage, but we’ve touched on the fact there is only one chance to run in the Oaks.

“Jim (Crowley) will probably have another sit on her, I’m hoping there might be a bit of rain about so we can do a bit of work, see how she is and go from there.”
So, yeah, no decision has been made on her next race yet. But, could Shadwell still have a representative in the Oaks if she doesn’t run?

ELWATEEN, fourth in the 1000 Guineas on just her second career start, may potentially be supplemented for the contest.

By DUBAWI out of the TEOFILO mare TAWKEEL (who won a Group 1 over 1m2f), she has a pedigree that suggests she’ll get further, and she’s achieved so much from a relatively small sample size.
On her future, Angus Gold of Shadwell said: “With Elwateen and Falakeyah, it is all up for discussion. There is a chance Elwateen could be supplemented for the Oaks.

“Elwateen is also in the Coronation (at Royal Ascot). She will work early next week, we’ll have a discussion with everybody together, put our heads together and see what everybody thinks, but there is certainly a chance she could be supplemented.

“We wouldn’t know about stamina for Elwateen until she runs, but on pedigree she’d have no trouble staying a mile and a quarter and Jim (Crowley) said she went to the top of the hill at Newmarket, so it’s just a question of if we think it’s the right road to go down.

“We’d take into account whether Falakeyah’s action would be suited to Epsom, but everyone knows now about Epsom – you never know how they’ll handle it until they get there.”
She looks like quite a smart horse for Shadwell, and she shouldn’t be dismissed if she is supplemented for the race.

RISK ON

Well, contrary to what we thought would happen, Pauling’s did stand and still got beat yesterday to add to our growing list of seconds this week.

Time for the French banker to join the list!

15.38 HAATEM

This guy is better than the field. His comeback run at Sandown was good, LEAD ARTIST actually finished last in that race and went on to win the Lockinge. We’re not expecting the same amount of improvement but he should still be winning this. 5/4.

15.47 ARCHDUKE FERDINAND

Didn’t get a run last time but that still makes him the form horse to beat today. With a clear run he could take some stopping today at 4/1. If you have access to BET365 then take the 3 places for a dirty ew. Small 40/1 ew double with SHIMMERING SPIN in the 1920 we think could be well handicapped.

SHORTIES TREBLE

14.47 TIME TO TURN, 15.25 OLIAKU & 18.00 MISS JUSTICE are all expected to win but all short and cba for a big lay out when bets have struggled to land this week. Backing one maiden is risky enough so three is a lot… small stakes at 6/1.

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