THE MEMORY will live long of Snow Fairy’s exuberantly celebrated Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes victory at Leopardstown on Saturday but Duntle’s disqualification from the other Group One on the card might provoke more immediate reverberations.
Although trainer David Wachman was in America yesterday, it is understood the Niarchos family who own Duntle haven’t ruled out appealing the decision to disqualify their filly after her narrow defeat of the English raider Chachamaidee in the Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.
Just a short head separated the pair at the line following jockey Wayne Lordan’s manoeuvre in edging Duntle out to challenge in the straight, hampering Alanza, who in turn made contact with Chachamaidee on her outside.
After a lengthy enquiry, the Leopardstown stewards reversed the placings and gave Lordan a two-day ban for careless riding, a decision that divided racecourse opinion but one that looked correct considering the narrowness of the margin and that Chachamaidee was closing at the line.
When asked yesterday if an appeal was likely, Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos family, said: “I’ve nothing to say about that at the moment.”
Chachamaidee’s jockey Tom Queally reported: “You’re always biased towards your own animal but I felt quite strongly and expressed my views. It’s not the way you like to win but it was well deserved for the filly. It wasn’t an easy decision for anyone but I think they got it right.”
Frankie Dettori finally got it right on Snow Fairy in the Champion and the charismatic Italian’s joy at winning on the remarkable mare at the fourth attempt was infectious among the near 9,000 strong crowd.
Runners-up in the race in 2011, Dettori’s late pounce on Snow Fairy made her an authoritative winner over the favourite Nathaniel, with St Nicholas Abbey back in third. It was a fifth Champion Stakes success for Dettori but a first since Grandera a decade before and he made the most of it.
“Usually, I don’t notice these things, but I could hear the crowd really get behind her and the roar when she crossed the line. The crowd at Leopardstown are fantastic. I’ve had some great winners here,” Dettori said.
“It’s all about the filly, she’s so popular. Everyone was delighted to see her win like that in a fighting finish. She got a tremendous cheer. She’s as popular as Kauto Star over jumps and racing needs superstars like that. She’s small, but she’s got a big punch!”
Trainer Ed Dunlop yesterday again paid tribute to the veterinary team that brought Snow Fairy back from a bad tendon tear last year and nominated the Arc and a re-match with Nathaniel as a possible next option.
Nathaniel’s trainer John Gosden was satisfied with his horse’s display, pointing out how it was a race en-route to the Arc in four week’s time. “He’s in good order. He ate up last night, had a lead out this morning and he’s on the ferry coming home,” said Gosden yesterday.
“I’m thrilled with him as he ran a superb race, I’m really happy with him. We were using it as a prep for the Arc, so let’s hope all goes well in the lead-up to Longchamp. I think the race will bring him on and the step up to a mile and a half will be fine,” he added.
Snow Fairy was third in last year’s Arc but has a number of other international options with Dunlop keen on a trip to California for the Breeders’ Cup.
