Anger at protest howler

Connections of a horse demoted to second place on protest, despite ‘winning’ the race by a length eased-down, say they are “stunned” by what could be one of the most baffling stewards decisions in Australian racing.

Brisbane trainer David Murphy said the decision by chairman of stewards Brett Wright to demote his horse Beachside Babe to second behind Tony Gollan’s Quade at Beaudesert on Saturday was one of the most “bizarre” decisions he has seen in his time.

Wright found jockey Andrew Spinks on Beachside Babe caused interference to Jag Guthmann-Chester aboard Quade at the 300m, which ultimately cost him the race when he attempted to make a run on the inside of the four-horse field.

“I almost fell off my chair I was that stunned by it, I am still in shock, I couldn’t answer my phone last night,” Murphy said.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was dumbfounded.

“It was bizarre because there is only one camera there at Beaudesert, so you can’t even see what is going on really, I don’t know how they can come to the conclusion they did.

“Even if Andrew did come in a little bit, which I’m not actually sure he did, the only reason Gollan’s horse did what it did was because it was going no good, he couldn’t go around them, he tried taking a short cut where there wasn’t much room.

“My horse was eased up, she could have won by two-and-ahalf (lengths). I honestly couldn’t believe it, I was stunned.”

In their report, the stewards said: “After considering all the circumstances, as the stewards were of the view had the interference to Quade not occurred, that gelding would have finished ahead of Beachside Babe at the end of the race and therefore the objection was upheld.”