'We wish we'd sent Cieren' - Maureen Haggas says Lake Forest to have different jockey for next Group 1 after Zac Purton 'worst ride' row

Tom Marquand or Cieren Fallon will be back in the saddle when Lake Forest goes for the Champions Mile at Flemington on November 8 following the fallout from last week's Group 1 King Charles III Stakes.

Maureen Haggas caused a stir when criticising Zac Purton's effort on Lake Forest at Randwick. Speaking at Kempton on Wednesday, she said: "Lake Forest never had a race. It was about the worst ride I've ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled."

The jockey hit back, saying he was "bemused" by the criticism and that he had not had time to watch the replay because he had been too busy watching himself winning the $20 million Everest on Ka Ying Rising on the same card. 

• Zac Purton hits back after Maureen Haggas labels his ride on Lake Forest as 'about the worst I've seen in my entire life' 

Asked if she had been shocked by the commotion her comments had caused, Haggas said: "Yes. I just said what I thought and it didn't go down very well, but there you go. He's entitled to his opinion the same way I'm entitled to mine, so it doesn't really bother me. What do you do?"

After a slow start, Lake Forest could never get on terms with the main group in the King Charles III, eventually trailing in seven and a quarter lengths behind the winner Ceolwulf, and Haggas said she now wished she and her husband William had sent Fallon to Australia for the ride. 

Lake Forest: Cieren Fallon could be back on board when he runs at Flemington next monthCredit: Jeremy Ng

She added: "Yes, we do wish we'd sent him, but it was Champions Day [at Ascot] and he rides Montassib. It's a hard one and you'd have thought having him on board would have been a good move, but he wasn't, and so you learn from your mistakes."

Haggas confirmed the Champions Mile would be next for Lake Forest, followed by a possible trip to Japan for the Mile Championship on November 23.

"He'll go to Melbourne now and either Tom will go down and ride him and Cieren will go and ride Bullet Point in the Five Diamonds in Sydney on the same day, or the other way around, because I don't think they've decided yet," she added. "Cieren will ride one and Tom will ride the other."

Despite wanting to move on from her spat with Purton, Haggas said she stood by her initial point of view. 

• WATCH: full replay of the King Charles III Stakes

"I was absolutely furious and the fact I was that angry four days later makes you realise how cross I was," she said. "I'm not a jockey basher. I grew up with a jockey and know what it takes for them to get to where they want to be. 

"It's a lot of hard work and sacrifice and William will say I stick up for jockeys too much, but it was just an ineffectual ride – like a 'I couldn't be bothered ride', but it's over and it's finished. Let's move on. It's boring now and it's done and dusted."

How the row played out

Maureen Haggas

"Lake Forest never had a race. It was about the worst ride I've ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled.

"I don't know Zac Purton at all, but it was just dreadful and so disappointing. Everyone knows you have to tell him he's got to do it and he was told it, but he just sat there. I was horrified.

"We'd gone all that way at huge expense on the owners' part and it just makes you realise how lucky we are we have the jockeys in England, Ireland and France, when you compare them to the rides ours got on Saturday over there, which were really shockingly awful."

Zac Purton’s response

"I didn't speak to her after the race. Her and William weren't down there – obviously they watched it from up there. She's got her opinion, which she's entitled to. I thank her for her advice but I haven't had time to watch the replay yet because I've been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20 million Everest!

"I followed Ceolwulf who went on to win the race and thought he's not too bad a horse to follow and he put seven lengths on me. As soon as they quickened my horse just went up and down on the one spot. He gave me no response at all. I'm a little bit bemused at her take on the race, but she's entitled to that, no problem."

What the stewards said

The Randwick stewards’ report noted Lake Forest was “slow to begin” and had to be checked mid-race, losing his rightful running place after being hampered by Ceolwulf, who had himself been pushed into Lake Forest’s path by Pericles. The latter’s rider Joshua Parr subsequently pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge and was suspended.

The report added: “Z. Purton reported the horse did not stretch out when under pressure in the straight and failed to close off. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities apart from an abrasion to the near-fore heel bulb.”

Read more:

Zac Purton hits back after Maureen Haggas labels his ride on Lake Forest as 'about the worst I've seen in my entire life' 

'The standard is noticeably lower than usual' - Maureen Haggas urges Ascot to improve quality of jockeys at Shergar Cup 

'The worst ride given to one of my horses' - trainer slams jockey after Royal Ascot defeat 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more