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Thread: Should Circus have kept the race?

  1. #1
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    Should Circus have kept the race?

    Circus Maximus passed the post an inch in front of Romanised, who just failed to get up, in today's Prix du Moulin. Circus Maximus was allowed to keep the race even though the head-on view (link below) shows that he pushed his opponent wide and then bumped him before straightening up.

    The stewards' secretary explained after the race that they had based their decision in large part on a statement by Billy Lee that Circus Maximus was going quicker than his own horse (!), and that the camera on the inside of the course showed Circus Maximus overtaking Romanised in the closing stages. The stewards also decided that while there had been a slight bump in the shadow of the post it did not affect the outcome in a situation where both horses were hanging simultaneously (!). The interview in question is shown on the same link, below the head-on footage.

    I disagree with all three grounds of the decision. It seems a strong possibility that there was a linguistic misunderstanding of what Billy Lee had to say. Surely he was pointing out that his own horse had travelled the quicker up the straight?

    I also think that when the margin is down to an inch, it can't be said that the bump made no difference.

    https://twitter.com/equidia/status/1170700578625851392
    Last edited by Grey; 8th September 2019 at 8:55 PM.

  2. #2
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    Enquiry was over very quickly, think there was a very good chance the placings would have been reversed here. Actually Success days hanging left let out Moore off the rail, also thought Romanised had gone a hd in front 1f out and Circus Maximus got back up. As you say perhaps they couldn't understand his accent, could be looking to get more rides for O'Brien!

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