Stacelita wins Vermeille as Dar demoted

Dar Re Mi has been demoted into fifth in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp, with runner-up Stacelita declared the winner.

John Gosden’s filly was first past the post, but was adjudged to have caused interference with another runner.

The French stewards ruled that Jimmy Fortune’s mount had interfered with Soberania.

They demoted Dar Re Mi to into fifth, meaning Jean-Claude Rouget’s Stacelita preserves her unbeaten record.

Madeleine Lloyd Webber, owner of Dar Re Mi, said: ``The best filly had won the race and hadn't hampered the first four.

“It’s a shame for her record as a broodmare, and a great tragedy that she’s not won the Prix Vermeille like her mother (Darara) did.

“We bring our horses here in good faith and love French racing – all we want is fairness. Of course we’ll still come racing in France after this.

“At the end of the day we are sportsmen. Nobody has died, it’s just a race.”