Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes: Jabaara disqualified and Raqiya placed first

The Falmouth Stakes runner-up looked set to provide Roger Varian and James Doyle with a quickfire double following the opening-race success of French Duke when sweeping to the front approaching the furlong pole.

However, she lunged to her right, going across to the far rail where Jim Crowley aboard Raqiya was, forcing him to switch his mount outside their rival.

His partner finished strongly and was only a head adrift at the line, the stewards’ deciding the interference had cost her the race.

Winning trainer Owen Burrows told Racing TV: “It’s never nice to win like this especially as the other horse is owned by Sheikh Ahmed and trained by Roger who is a good friend of mine.

“The important thing for me is Raqiya showed she stays seven furlongs and hopefully as she’s lightly raced, she can keep on improving.

“Jim had her in a great position, we didn’t want to be too far back, and I thought she travelled and relaxed good which was important. There was just half a gap up the rail and it was always closing so he couldn’t get up there until the cutaway.

“Typical of here, then they all rolled back onto the rail like Roger’s horse did and the impressive thing was even when she was stopped, my filly picked up and I think in another couple of strides we’d have been in front anyway.”

Varian accepted the ruling graciously and commented: “She travelled strongly, she moved into it comfortably. I thought she put the race to bed.

"I’ve only seen the race once and I don’t want to comment on the interference or the stewards’ decision – they have had the luxury of watching it many more times and from more angles than we have and they have come to that decision and we have to congratulate the winner.

"It’s a shame, I think our filly was on top for most of the race, and maybe she just threw it away. I don’t know what else to say – she ran well."

What was said in the stewards' enquiry...

Jim Crowley: “I’ve had to wait until the cutaway and my filly is picking up. We’ve got the rail to run against and we’ve got plenty of clear room to go. The horse in front has just shifted across her and I’ve had to switch. I think she’s lost a bit of momentum, I’ve had to check, then obviously she has stayed on again. I feel that, if that hadn't happened, she probably would have won.

“I stopped for about three strides. There’s no question we have had to stop. Four strides, easily, and then you have lost your momentum. She’s made up a length and a half. With a clear run and, without losing her momentum, she would have won."

James Doyle: “There is no question, when I have let my filly go, she has looked for company and gone right-hand down until she has got to the rail. I felt at the time she has crossed onto the rail, Jim hasn’t had to check and come out. So I don’t feel that it has affected his momentum whatsoever. Jim has had to just ease off for a run but he hasn’t had to check, halt and then come out for a run. When I have actually passed him, I don’t feel like I am in any way in his space.

“The way she kicked, I felt that she had kicked really clear and I still maintain that she has. I know Jim has said he has stopped riding - he’s trying to come out and I think his filly wants to lie in on the rail. She’s (Jabaara) kicked clear and I don’t feel that I am ever in his space – he’s just had to switch because he is finishing and he’s had to come out for a run.

"I think my filly is the best filly because she has kicked clear, she has completely shut down from the minute she’s hit the front – she has wandered right up against that rail and completely stopped. She did feel the second coming and found at the line.”

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