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Escalating Ascot victory highlights controversial interference rules Escalating Ascot victory highlights controversial interference rules
(about 3 hours later)
A senior steward acknowledged that there was "frustration" over the rules on interference after a controversial finish here on Wednesday in which the Royal Ascot-bound Escalating held off Kibaar after knocking his rival sideways. The result was allowed to stand and Paul Barton, Britain's head of stewarding who served on the panel here, insisted that was the right decision as the rules are presently framed.A senior steward acknowledged that there was "frustration" over the rules on interference after a controversial finish here on Wednesday in which the Royal Ascot-bound Escalating held off Kibaar after knocking his rival sideways. The result was allowed to stand and Paul Barton, Britain's head of stewarding who served on the panel here, insisted that was the right decision as the rules are presently framed.
But that wasn't good enough for Paul Hanagan, Kibaar's jockey, who said: "I thought I should have got it. I just don't think the rules are right. It stopped me dead. I would have won."But that wasn't good enough for Paul Hanagan, Kibaar's jockey, who said: "I thought I should have got it. I just don't think the rules are right. It stopped me dead. I would have won."
The incident occured just over a furlong from the finish of the five-furlong race for two-year-olds. Escalating, having his third race, jinked suddenly to his left after a flick of the whip from his jockey, James Doyle, barging into the shoulder of Kibaar. The runner-up did not rally immediately but finished well to be beaten half a length. The incident occurred just over a furlong from the finish of the five-furlong race for two-year-olds. Escalating, having his third race, jinked suddenly to his left after a flick of the whip from his jockey, James Doyle, barging into the shoulder of Kibaar. The runner-up did not rally immediately but finished well to be beaten half a length.
Barton said the stewards had not been satisfied that Escalating had improved its position by causing the interference; in other words, they were not convinced Kibaar would have won with a clear run. He noted in particular that Kibaar had "something like 34 strides" from the interference to the line but made little headway until the final six strides.Barton said the stewards had not been satisfied that Escalating had improved its position by causing the interference; in other words, they were not convinced Kibaar would have won with a clear run. He noted in particular that Kibaar had "something like 34 strides" from the interference to the line but made little headway until the final six strides.
Explaining the process by which stewards reach their decision, Barton said: "If they go, 'Do you know what? I'm not sure whether that horse would have won or not,' they leave it alone and that's what they did. It's what you're comfortable with, leaving the room.Explaining the process by which stewards reach their decision, Barton said: "If they go, 'Do you know what? I'm not sure whether that horse would have won or not,' they leave it alone and that's what they did. It's what you're comfortable with, leaving the room.
"You've got cases where it's quite clear that the sufferer would have beaten the interferer, but for the interference. You've got cases where, quite clearly, the interferer has not devalued the placing of the other one. And then you've all those that sit in the middle and there's an awful lot that sit in that place, where you go, 'Do you know what? I can show that to 50 people and I'm not sure anyone will be decisive about it'.""You've got cases where it's quite clear that the sufferer would have beaten the interferer, but for the interference. You've got cases where, quite clearly, the interferer has not devalued the placing of the other one. And then you've all those that sit in the middle and there's an awful lot that sit in that place, where you go, 'Do you know what? I can show that to 50 people and I'm not sure anyone will be decisive about it'."
Asked whether the benefit of the doubt should be given to the victim, rather than the offender, as at present, Barton said: "That's a different debate. That's the rule as we have it at the moment. I understand some people's frustration with it.Asked whether the benefit of the doubt should be given to the victim, rather than the offender, as at present, Barton said: "That's a different debate. That's the rule as we have it at the moment. I understand some people's frustration with it.
"What we've got at the moment is what we've got and I think it works very, very well for the vast, vast majority of cases. You will never get something that works in 100% of cases. I'm comfortable with where we sit at the moment.""What we've got at the moment is what we've got and I think it works very, very well for the vast, vast majority of cases. You will never get something that works in 100% of cases. I'm comfortable with where we sit at the moment."
However, Barton said work was going on that is aimed at improving the way stewards' decisions and other items of raceday information are communicated to the public. This will be done through improvements to the British Horseracing Authority's website, which will collect all such information on a single page, which may then be displayed on screens around the course. No start date has yet been set for this initiative.However, Barton said work was going on that is aimed at improving the way stewards' decisions and other items of raceday information are communicated to the public. This will be done through improvements to the British Horseracing Authority's website, which will collect all such information on a single page, which may then be displayed on screens around the course. No start date has yet been set for this initiative.
Pat Eddery, trainer of Escalating, said the horse would be better on a faster surface and would next be seen in the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting here in June. The horse was a 10th winner in four days for James Doyle, who is due to ride the hot favourite, Kingman, in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday. Pat Eddery, the trainer of Escalating, said the horse would be better on a faster surface and would next be seen in the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting here in June. The horse was a 10th winner in four days for James Doyle, who is due to ride the hot favourite, Kingman, in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.
John Gosden, trainer of Kingman, appeared an anxious man here as he discussed the horse's chance, constantly bringing the conversation back to the subject of weather. Newmarket has received only 4mm of rain in the past three weeks and the trainer would like some more in order to be sure he can risk his classy colt, who had a chip removed from an ankle last year. John Gosden, the trainer of Kingman, appeared an anxious man here as he discussed the horse's chance, constantly bringing the conversation back to the subject of weather. Newmarket has received only 4mm of rain in the past three weeks and the trainer would like some more in order to be sure he can risk his classy colt, who had a chip removed from an ankle last year.
"This forecast rain [on Thursday], it has been forecast consistently at Newmarket for the last two weeks and we haven't got it," Gosden said. "If we miss it, then that's an issue for him. We all want to see genuine good to firm ground. We don't want to see firm ground, that's all. It dries up quickly, Newmarket."This forecast rain [on Thursday], it has been forecast consistently at Newmarket for the last two weeks and we haven't got it," Gosden said. "If we miss it, then that's an issue for him. We all want to see genuine good to firm ground. We don't want to see firm ground, that's all. It dries up quickly, Newmarket.
"Fortunately, I have an owner who is highly experienced, and his manager the same. If we have to make a late decision, we will make a late decision. But at this time, we are very much intent upon running. That is our desire and has been all along. We're not looking for soft ground or anything like that. You've got to run into the dip there, you're looking for safe ground.""Fortunately, I have an owner who is highly experienced, and his manager the same. If we have to make a late decision, we will make a late decision. But at this time, we are very much intent upon running. That is our desire and has been all along. We're not looking for soft ground or anything like that. You've got to run into the dip there, you're looking for safe ground."
Michael Prosser, Newmarket's clerk of the course, said the going remained good to firm, tending more towards good from the dip to the winning post after 1mm of unforecast rain on Wednesday. He expects 4mm to 5mm on Thursday.Michael Prosser, Newmarket's clerk of the course, said the going remained good to firm, tending more towards good from the dip to the winning post after 1mm of unforecast rain on Wednesday. He expects 4mm to 5mm on Thursday.
"The track is in fantastic condition," Prosser said after walking it on Wednesday afternoon. "I bumped into a couple of racing professionals out there, who, unprompted, congratulated us on the course. It's very forward for what we expect at the time of year."The track is in fantastic condition," Prosser said after walking it on Wednesday afternoon. "I bumped into a couple of racing professionals out there, who, unprompted, congratulated us on the course. It's very forward for what we expect at the time of year.
"We're in a good place. I imagine if we get this rain, it might push us towards good ground.""We're in a good place. I imagine if we get this rain, it might push us towards good ground."
Prosser added that the forecast was dry from Friday afternoon to the end of racing on Sunday. If Thursday's rain did not arrive, therefore, he is likely to put some water down on Friday.Prosser added that the forecast was dry from Friday afternoon to the end of racing on Sunday. If Thursday's rain did not arrive, therefore, he is likely to put some water down on Friday.
"But I don't think Thursday's rain will miss us. Mother Nature should do the work for us and I hope that's the way it pans out. What you want is a decent racing surface, so that all horses are able to run to their full ability.""But I don't think Thursday's rain will miss us. Mother Nature should do the work for us and I hope that's the way it pans out. What you want is a decent racing surface, so that all horses are able to run to their full ability."
Richard Hannon has secured a stellar team of jockeys for his three Guineas contenders. The trainer said on Wednesday that Richard Hughes would ride Toormore in Saturday's Classic, with Frankie Dettori booked for Shifting Power and Kieren Fallon for Night Of Thunder.Richard Hannon has secured a stellar team of jockeys for his three Guineas contenders. The trainer said on Wednesday that Richard Hughes would ride Toormore in Saturday's Classic, with Frankie Dettori booked for Shifting Power and Kieren Fallon for Night Of Thunder.
Dettori landed the day's big race, here, the Sagaro Stakes, aboard Tac De Boistron, who easily pulled five lengths clear of the Fallon-ridden Earth Amber. The winning trainer, Marco Botti, said he would aim the grey at the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting in the hope that the ground is similarly soft.Dettori landed the day's big race, here, the Sagaro Stakes, aboard Tac De Boistron, who easily pulled five lengths clear of the Fallon-ridden Earth Amber. The winning trainer, Marco Botti, said he would aim the grey at the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting in the hope that the ground is similarly soft.
"There is a Group Two race in France at the end of May," Botti said, "but he was so impressive we'll probably bypass that and wait for the Gold Cup and see what kind of ground we get. Fingers crossed we get the ground.""There is a Group Two race in France at the end of May," Botti said, "but he was so impressive we'll probably bypass that and wait for the Gold Cup and see what kind of ground we get. Fingers crossed we get the ground."