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Both appeals dismissed as Pretty Polly result stands

3 minute read

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board panel dismissed two appeals regarding the Pretty Polly Stakes run at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend.

VIA SISTINA winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Curragh in Kildare, Ireland. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The George Boughey-trained winner Via Sistina drifted markedly right-handed up the straight causing interference to those in behind.

Connections of the second-place filly, Stay Alert, announced an appeal against the result with Hughie Morrison's four-year-old hampered as she began to mount her challenge.

On-course stewards deemed that Via Sistina had not improved her finishing position as a result of causing the interference and on Tuesday morning it was confirmed that the result would stand.

However, Jamie Spencer, who also appealed against his six-day ban for careless riding likewise found his appeal unsuccessful.

Spencer teamed up with Charlie Hills to land the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Khaadem at Royal Ascot in June but with the Newmarket-based rider now ruled out on July 15, 17-20 and 22, the pair will not be reunited in this Saturday's July Cup.

Khaadem now looks set to be partnered by fellow recent Group 1-winning jockey Rob Hornby, who enjoyed his fourth top-level success on Westover in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last weekend.