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Hong Kong Owner Challenges Group One Result

3 minute read

The Hong Kong owner of the Ken Condon-trained Romanised will lodge an appeal to French racing authorities against the result of the G1 Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday, won by fellow Irish raider Circus Maximus.

Circus Maximus Picture: Pat Healy Photography

There was drama after the stewards declared the Aidan O'Brien-trained Circus Maximus, ridden by Ryan Moore, the winner by a nose over the unlucky Romanised.

The head-on vision revealed interference caused by the wayward Circus Maximus but in what has been criticised as a hasty decision by race day officials he was allowed to keep the race.

Ken Condon later confirmed that Romanised's owner Robert Ng, who watched the race from his home in Hong Kong, will seek to overturn the result on appeal to higher authorities.

"We're going to appeal, the owner has reviewed the footage at home in Hong Kong and has spoken to me directly," Condon said.

"He's expressed his wish to appeal after seeing the visual evidence. We think we've got a good case.

"Circus Maximus does come across and you're talking about a nose at the end of the day. It certainly warrants looking at again.

"They announced the result quick, which is their prerogative, but it's Mr Ng's prerogative to have it looked at again which is what we'll do."

Ryan Moore had a different view and was adamant Circus Maximus was a fair winner.

"I think he was the best horse on the day and was always holding the second with a bit more in the tank," Moore said.

Romanised and Circus Maximus engaged in the drive to the finish with Condon's 4YO in front for more than 100 metres but was carried left as Circus Maximus repeated his tendency to veer off a true line.

There was contact and given the slender winning margin it was surprising that officials declared the result without any kind of delay, suggesting French stewards are taking a softer approach to judging interference.



Circus Maximus wins the Group 1 Prix du Moulin