Yet another stewards’ decision that makes no sense
Of course it was important as far as the immediate connections of both horses were concerned and a straggler or two in the press-room did hang around to hear the final verdict.
Fastnowfast was a 20-1 shot and Lime Tree Valley 14-1, so the vast majority of punters were surely half way home by the time the stewards had arrived at a conclusion.
In the end they decided to reverse the placings, finding in favour of Lime Tree Valley. The stewards did so on the basis Fastnowfast edged across to her left in the closing stages, towards Lime Tree Valley, and that the interference was sufficient to justify a reversal of the placings.
What the stewards were saying is that they were totally convinced the result was affected, in other words Lime Tree Valley would definitely have won had Fastnowfast run in a straight line.
It emphasised one more time that you can just about throw your hat at the rules right now, because there’s no consistency and here’s one, at least, who hasn’t a clue what to expect.
Just ask yourself one question, if the stewards at Tipperary read this right then how could Alessandro Volta remain in front of Curtain Call in the Irish Derby at the Curragh?
Curtain Call was brought to a virtual standstill when Alessandro Volta hung badly left and it looked an open and shut case.
But the stewards on the day saw it differently and, to rub salt into the wounds, the result still stood after Curtain Call’s connections had appealed.
Seriously, which was by far and away the worst offence, Alessandro Volta or Fastnowfast?
The stewards at the Curragh weren’t convinced the result was affected, neither were those who heard the appeal, and so Alessandro Volta, astonishingly, stayed in front of Curtain Call.
But, remarkably, the stewards at Tipperary were equally convinced that Fastnowfast had improved her placing and had to be demoted.
I’ve watched the head-on of the contest several times since and have great difficulty understanding the decision.
There’s no doubt Fastnowfast edged away to her left through the final furlong and you could argue she intimidated Lime Tree Valley to also head in that direction.
But Chris Geoghegan never stopped riding on Lime Tree Vally, the principals did not touch and, I would contend, the second was never going to pass the original winner.
There was a neck between them at the line and it isn’t as if it was a short head you know.
The stewards in their wisdom, however, convinced themselves that Lime Tree Valley was entitled to the benefit of the doubt and that seems to be a complete about turn, relative to the Curragh decision.
The stewards at the Curragh and those at Tipperary can’t both be right!
And if you use that much-publicised decision by the Leopardstown stewards in July of last year as a precedent, then what happened at Tipperary makes no sense at all.
At Leopardstown, Westlake clearly did Farmer Brown twice in the final furlong and was allowed keep the race.
Wayne Lordan partnered Fastnowfast at Tipperary and was found guilty of careless riding and suspended for three days.
He was careless and deserved to be suspended. Lordan has since lodged an appeal, which is perfectly understandable.
As matters stand at the moment the third day of the suspension will fall on Saturday week, September 13, the day he is set to ride Unsung Heroine in the English Leger at Doncaster.
A reduction of one day would see him free to team up with that filly, so he has nothing to lose.
Fastnowfast’s trainer, Flan Costello, who hasn’t had a winner for seven years, has also lodged an appeal.
If there is any justice in this racing world right now, Fastnowfast will be restored to her rightful place. But after the Irish Derby appeal, we certainly won’t be holding our collective breaths.
