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Picture: Frankie Dettori’s mount Haskoy can be seen interfering with Giavellotto on the rail (Focusonracing).

 

The up-and-down season of Frankie Dettori continued in such vein at Doncaster yesterday when he rode “carelessly” in the St. Leger on the Ralph Beckett-trained Haskoy (Golden Horn) and it earned him a five day suspension after the filly had been demoted from second to fourth in the placings. 

The final British classic of the season was won by the Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov (Dubawi), who gave David Egan a first classic victory.

Dettori was in joint third place entering the long straight and moved towards the centre to follow the pacemaker French Claim.

He thus left the door open for the Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman).

However, Dettori then began continually drifting back to the rail and eventually hampered Giavellotto, who had to be snatched up just as he was beginning to look threatening.

Giavellotto was picked up and was running on strongly at the line.

He finished fourth, beaten a neck by the favourite New London, who was half-a-length behind the second horse home, Haskoy. 

The British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) head of stewarding Shaun Parker, who was the chief steward at the meeting (he was a former chief stipe in KZN), explained the decision to demote Haskoy to fourth place: “The view of the stewards is that Mr Callan has established himself a run against the rail and is steadily making his progress going to the two-furlong marker, at which point he had to take a noticeable check off Mr Dettori’s mount, which shifted towards the rail and has stopped his momentum at that particular stage.

“After the noticeable check, we were of the view that he had lost more ground than the three-quarters of a length he was beaten, and we took the view that if he had been given an uninterrupted run to the line he would have beaten Mr Dettori.”

Neil Callan was visibly angry after dismounting and trainer Marco Botti felt his charge deserved to finish closer than he did.

“I’m pleased because I didn’t think they (stewards) would do anything,” said the Italian.

“I’ve just spoken to Neil Callan and he said he stood his ground. He said he shouted at Frankie and he came across. It’s so obvious the horse should have finished closer than fourth.

“We’re delighted we were promoted in position. The horse deserved to finish a little bit closer and in a way it’s a relief.

“It’s good for the owner as she’s here and bred the horse and was a bit disappointed to be fourth after watching the race. I’m delighted for the owners.”

However, Ralph Beckett announced his intention to appeal the revised result.

He did not agree with it due to  the interference having taken  place some way from home.

Beckett, whose Simple Verse lost the 2015 St Leger on the day, only to get the race back on appeal, said: “The way the rules are written will be the basis for the appeal.”

Speaking prior to the result being amended, he said: “She ran a huge race and there is nothing to say other than we found one too good – that is it really.”

Dettori was suspended for five days for “careless riding as he had allowed his mount to drift left without sufficient and timely correction, causing Giavellotto to be severely checked in its run.”

This is the second ban Dettori has picked up in a little over a week after he was suspended for breaking whip rules in a race in Germany.

 
Haskoy’s demotion from second to fourth cost her owner £127,000.