Alfalfa (white face) and Kermiya fight out the finish© Photo Healy Racing
It looked as if Tim Doyle and Wayne Hassett had teamed up to land another winner when Alfalfa was first past the post in the Tote Fantasy Handicap but it was not to be after the stewards intervened.
Doyle's five-year-old had come through to lead over a furlong from home but began to edge left when challenged by Ben Coen's mount Kermiya shortly after.
The latter, trained by Johnny Murtagh for the Aga Khan, received only minimal contact but had her momentum checked a couple of times as she was carried across towards the stands' side by the errant leader.
The pair pulled well clear of the remainder as Alfalfa maintained a narrow advantage to the line with a neck the margin of victory.
After an enquiry, the stewards were of the opinion that Alfalfa had caused interference to Kermiya and as a result of this interference had improved its finishing position, so the latter was promoted to first place.
Hassett, who rode his 17th winner of the campaign earlier in the afternoon on Tiscommonknowledge had picked up an eight-day ban for careless riding at Galway yesterday and again incurred the wrath of the stewards. He was hit with a further 12-day suspension for careless riding, it being his fourth such offence.
11/1 chance Kermiya, an unlucky loser at Galway last month, was getting off the mark at the seventh time of asking and jockey Coen remarked: “She’s a big, raw filly and probably next year is her year as she’s still a bit weak.
“I got a bit of interference the last furlong and a half which didn’t help but it’s nice to get a win under her belt. She loves that ground.”
Stewards Report
The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the straight involving Alfalfa, ridden by M.W Hassett, placed first and Kermiya, ridden by B.M. Coen, placed second, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. B.M. Coen stated that his mount was picking up from a furlong and a half down when the other horse kept bringing him across and his mount never got a fair chance, he felt if he could have held his line he'd have won. M.W. Hassett stated that his mount was idling in front, when he grabbed him up when he kept leaning but was strong to the line. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Alfalfa had caused interference to Kermiya and as a result of this interference had improved its finishing position. As a consequence, the Raceday Stewards reversed the placings of the first two horses and amended the result to read as follows: Amended Result: First: Kermiya Second: Alfalfa Third: Stormy Jenn Fourth: Bridge Of Dawn Fifth: Team Of Firsts Sixth: New Hill Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that M.W. Hassett was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly, and having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for 12 race days (fourth offence)
