Paddy Twomey landed a first career Group One at the Curragh on Sunday but the big race outcome proved bittersweet for the rising star of the training ranks.
County Tipperary based Twomey won the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes with the 9-1 shot La Petite Coco and looked to have got a cherry on top with his €30,000 supplementary entry Rosscarbery belying 20-1 odds to gain a valuable third spot.
However, confusion reigned immediately afterwards as Rosscabery’s jockey Wayne Lordan weighed in 5lbs lighter than he weighed out.
Up to a 1lb difference is permitted either way but with Lordan weighing out at 138.1 and weighing in at 133.5 the filly got automatically disqualified.
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The matter was referred on by the stewards for further investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board which looks sure to focus on the possibility of a computer glitch during Lordan’s weighing out process.
Apparently, when he stood on the scales the clerk of the scales told Lordan he was 5lbs too heavy. The jockey removed some weight, got back on the scales and was weighed out. When he weighed back in, he was 5lbs light. Rosscarbery’s disqualification saw Thunder Kiss promoted to third.
A displeased Twomey reported: “I was getting the two saddles. Billy (Lee rider of La Petitie Coco) weighed out first and he weighed out fine. He gave me the saddle.
“Wayne was inside and he got on the scales and the clerk of the scales to him that he was 5lb too heavy. He made him take down the saddle and take out the weights and then get back on the scales.
“So, he did that and then the clerk of the scales then cleared him. He weighed him out with the correct weight and sent him out to the race.”
Twomey added: “He weighed out and was given the okay by the clerk of the scales who said he had the correct weight. Then when he weighed back in, he was told he was 5lb light.
“The same saddle that went out came back in and I guess we will have to appeal it. It’s a glitch with the clerk of the scales, it’s an issue with the IHRB and I’d say my owner won’t be impressed.”
It is an embarrassing foul up for the IHRB during Irish Derby weekend which saw Twomey secure third place in Saturday’s classic with the outsider French Claim.
La Petite Coco’s half-length defeat of My Astra a day later should have been a moment to savour for the Cork man who has held a licence for only six years.
Despite it being her first run of the season, Twomey said: “To be honest I couldn’t see her being beaten coming here. The level she showed last year to beat Love (in the Blandford) and the winner of this race (Thundering Nights) I didn’t enter her in the Arc for fun. I think she’s top class.”
Sunday was also a first for 19 year old apprentice rider Jamie Powell with the first double of his career through Coumshingaun and Anyo Syra in the Rockingham.
