Another Steward's Enquiry Fiasco.

If the televised Steward’s Enquiry following the Ascot Gold Cup was an example of Ascot’s officialdom, then God help us!
It reminded me of the Crimson Embers/Rose Ravine fiasco in the World Hurdle all those years ago- when the same owner owned the first two horses.
Today, the stewards asked Frankie Dettori for his interpretation of the final furlong.
The gist of his answer was...
“ Colour Vision started to drift left and he lightly touched Opinion Poll. I did what I could to straighten him, but I won by half a length and would have won anyway.”
Michael Barzalona was NOT asked for his version of events. His interpreter simply translated what Frankie had said, and then Barzalona retorted..
“Je ne dis rien.” (I have nothing to say).
The stewards then walked out and the result was upheld.
Firstly, the head on clearly showed that Colour Vision bumped into Opinion Poll- not violently but enough to cause him to lose his action. In fact, the horse nearly lost his back fore and could have come down with a heavier knock on the rain-softened ground. The second contact (again caused by Colour Vision) was very light .
Secondly, Frankie Dettori made no effort at any time to transfer his whip into his left hand- despite his saying “ I did what I could.”
I honestly do not know whether Opinion Poll would have won without the interference, but I do know horses have been disqualified for less.
It was obvious that, by saying nothing, Barzalona was instructed to keep his mouth shut.
More to the point, why did the stewards not ask him for his version of what happened?
The event made a mockery of calling an enquiry in the first place and is another example of stewards failing in their duty to the racing public.
Absolutely disgraceful to conduct an enquiry in that fashion- and in keeping with John McCririck’s Ladies’ Day attire!

 

Agreed, I thought Barzalona's face told the whole story really and I think Dettori cost him the race because Opinion Poll looked all over the winner before being bumped. Would Barzalona have been so quiet had it been any other horse in the field bar Colour Vision? Je pense que non.

 

I totally agree Tamerlo, for Barca to have nothing to say should cause a further enquiry itself, how can a jockey of a clearly disadvantaged horse not represent his horse in a stewards enquiry. As you rightly say if Barca had been interferred with by fame and Glory into second would he then be keeping tight lipped ?

I have a real problem with English stewards actually as we are the opposite of France at present. In France you only need come across slightly at the two pole to be thrown out whilst over here you need mount the other horse and slit the jockeys throat before you will hear anything other than placings remain unaltered. I saw a race at Kempton a couple of months back when a horse came across half the track bumped the other horse, carried him further across but then ran on to win. As you could not definately say the other horse would have won he kept the race even though you could definately say the horse had his chance completely taken away and did run on to be closing at the finish. As it was not this sacred distance of a nose that we hear so much about he had no chance, why it has to bea nose i have no idea?

 

I have to say that I disagree guys. For mine, Barzalona didn't for a moment stop riding Opinion Poll. I couldn't see the horse being all that badly inconvenience to tell you the truth. I think it just hit the wall in the last 100 yards. Wasn't good enough I reckon.

 

I said before they went in Barzalona will say nothing. Just knew it. Joke but I do think the result was correct

 

Gotta disagree again Oddy. There is no doubt the Opinion Poll copped a bang and for a few strides looked affected. But then he continued to lost ground when rebalanced, even the third horse hit the line better than he did. For mine, there has to be no doubt that he was robbed, but the manner in which he went to the line cast a doubt. The result has to stand. But mate, I've lost a damn sight more than I've won, so I could be talking out my arse.

 

On a slightly different topic but still involving the stewards, does anyone know if hanagan copped a ban for his 'ride' on mukhadram in the 5 o clock? He clearly stopped riding his horse over half a furlong out when he realised he wasnt going to beat the german horse and cost it third place in the race as it got collared by rewarded on the line

 

Whether or not the result was affected, I don't know, but I do know that Dettori had his whip in his left hand, then swapped it to his right hand and, when starting to drift toward OP, continued to use the whip in his right hand. Not only did he make no effort to straighten up CV but he actually made the situation worse by continuing to use the whip in his right hand. It looked like a desperate attempt to ensure Barzalona didn't beat him. Clearly there would be no objection and it was also pretty obvious that Barzalona had been instructed to say nothing (his body language said it all).

I am surprised that Frankie hasn't been given a holiday for reckless riding. It looked pretty reckless to me.

 

I agree Ron Frankie should have got a day at least. I feel they did not want the anouncement afterwards that Frankie Ascot darling to the public racegoer copped a ban.

The big issue is not i feel if Opinion Poll would have won or not as i feel you can make an argument either way, it is a close one but if i had to make the call i would have just about let him keep the race but given Frankie a short holiday. The real issue here is WHY did Barca not represent his horse in the enquiry. This itself needs an enquiry as although Godolphin own both many punters were on Opinion Poll and the result needed to be questioned from both Jockeys view and Barca lacked integrity in my opinion as i could not imagine a jockey in such a big race offer no attempt to gain his horse a reversal. I hope today he is involved in another against a non godolphin horse as you will see him stating his case very clearly as he would were it Fame and Glory who had just beat him yesterday. The translator should have had a joke when asked to translate his short reply by saying Mikel wishes to simply roll over.

 

Or Mikel would actually like to ride in the next race.

 

If he'd have just picked up the phone and spoken to that nice Mr Magnier none of this would have happened and he'd be riding for the best operation in the world and winning Group 1 races left right and centre.

 

All he needed say was 'My horse came with his run but sadly was bumped by Frankie's horse due to him rolling left, i cannot say i would have won but i feel my chance was diminished somewhat by the incident'. In saying this he would have been honest whilst not aggressively fighting against his stable mate. If Godolphin would have held that against him they would have been in the wrong.

I agree Dan he should be stable Jockey to Coolmore. Joseph is nowhere near the finished product to the degree most Jockeys would have to be before being handed that job and Mikel is too fine a Jockey to be a second string.

 

I think Opinion Poll would have won, had he not been interfered with *