ANDREA Atzeni was denied back-to-back Ladbrokes St Legers by the Doncaster stewards after Simple Verse was disqualified and placed second behind Bondi Beach.
Supplemented at a cost of £50,000 on Monday, Simple Verse (8-1) was aiming to become the first filly to win the Classic since User Friendly in 1992. History appeared to have been made when Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old crossed the line a head in front of Aidan O’Brien’s Bondi Beach (2-1 joint-favourite), but the klaxon was sounded due to two incidents of interference inside the final quarter-mile.
Jockeys Colm O’Donoghue and Atzeni both presented their case in the Stewards’ Room and, after a lengthy discussion, the placings were reversed.
When the winning connections were presented with the famous old trophy and O’Donoghue the Leger cap, boos and the odd shout were clearly audible.
Atzeni won in the colours of Paul Smith on Kingston Hill 12 months ago, but, this time, they were on opposite sides with Smith representing his father, Derrick, part-owner of Bondi Beach.
Immediately after the result was revised, Beckett announced his intention to appeal the decision.
“I’m astonished, “ said the Andover-based trainer.
“Can you honestly say that it was entirely her fault? Could you put your hand on your heart and say it was her fault in the last half furlong?
“I don’t think I can answer that question. Can anybody else? One thing is for certain, we will appeal this.”
Atzeni went on to ride Captain Morley to victory in the following Napoleons Casinos and Restaurants Handicap in the Simple Verse colours and admits he was still in tears over seeing the St Leger snatched from his grasp when that race started.
“I felt like going home,” said the Italian. “I was crying in the stalls, but this is my job.
“I’m gutted as I think the best horse won the race. I gave the winner a little bump, but he leaned on me as much as I did him.
“We will have to appeal. It’s a Classic and you can’t let that go.”
Atzeni was banned for three days for the first incident (September 27-29), but the second bump was considered accidental with the decision made as a consequence of both incidents.
O’Donoghue, banned for two days (September 27 and 28) for using his whip above the permitted level, insists he was blocked off.
“I had time [after the first bump]to go and get him [Atzeni], but, again, I got impeded,” he said. “My momentum was stopped. All I know is I tried to have a fair shot at it. I got impeded, and the rules have made the decision.
“It’s important to win my first St Leger. I need this.”
The other 2-1 joint favourite, Storm The Stars, was close up in fourth.
Golden Horn kept the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown after a dramatic finish to the Group One showpiece.
John Gosden’s Derby winner veered across from the far rail inside the final furlong, bumping into Free Eagle, who was making a strong challenge and was almost upsides. There was no time for Free Eagle to regain his momentum and Golden Horn, the 5-4 favourite, came home in front after making most of the running under Frankie Dettori.
Found ran on to grab second place. A Stewards’ Inquiry was immediately called, but the placings remained unaltered.
Gosden now aims to take Golden Horn to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“We’d like to go there, but we don’t want a monsoon in Paris,” he said.
Meanwhile, at Musselburgh, Joe Fanning steered Adele to a thrilling victory in the inaugural running of the £30,000 Caledonian Cup.
Sent off at 9-2, Mark Johnston’s Middleham raider fought off Agent Gibbs to score by a length.
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