Zarigana Awarded French One Thousand Guineas Victory

Kieran Shoemark said he was "gutted" after suffering classic heartache for the second week in a row when the result of the French One Thousand Guineas (G1) was overturned in the stewards' room, with favorite Zarigana (GB) awarded the victory over Shes Perfect (IRE) May 11. Shoemark had finished first past the post on the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect just days after losing his job as first jockey to John and Thady Gosden following defeat aboard Field Of Gold (IRE) in last week's Two Thousand Guineas (G1). There were jubilant scenes in the winner's enclosure for the members of the Basher Watts syndicate but ecstasy turned to agony when Zarigana's rider Mickael Barzalona raised an objection and the placings were reversed following a lengthy stewards' inquiry. Interference was deemed to have taken place between Shes Perfect and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Exactly (IRE), who bumped into Zarigana before she was beaten by a nose. Shoemark said: "I'm gutted for the connections but we've got a wonderful filly. She's really exciting going forward and I'm sorry for the connections that it didn't happen today. We'll get over it and I'm sure we'll see her at Ascot, she's a wonderful filly. "I've had an incredible amount of support throughout this last five, six days. Even just walking back in then off the filly, my phone has been red-hot. It's another twist on the roller coaster of emotions but we move on, we keep going." An anguished Fellowes, who also saddled Luther (GB) to finish fourth in the French Two Thousand Guineas (G1), told Sky Sports Racing: "We've been invited into the stewards' room and they are going to explain and let us know the process from here. I thought (the interference) was minimal and a long way out and I was very surprised. "In England that would not be overturned but we're not in England and I don't know the rules over here." When asked if he would appeal the result, Fellowes said: "I'd need to speak to some people and get some advice on the situation and decide whether it's worth it." The Aga Khan Studs-owned Zarigana, a winner on her reappearance at Longchamp last month, provided Francis Graffard with his second victory in the classic after he scored with Rouhiya (FR) in 2022. "It was a tough few minutes and we don't like to win like this," said Graffard. "I feel sorry for connections of Shes Perfect but this is racing and it's happened to me before. "When she came with a run she got unbalanced at the wrong time and then only lost by a nose, so it was decided in the stewards' room. There's a lot of expectation around this filly so I'm thrilled she's done that. It's not an easy race to win but she deserved to. She's a very good filly. "We have to discuss her next steps but I'm not sure she needs to be stepped up in trip. If we decide to stick to a mile she'll go for the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot."