Condon hopeful of turning the tables as Romanised Moulin appeal confirmed

Ken Condon believes there is strong evidence to suggest Romanised should have won a third Group 1 in Sunday's Prix du Moulin at Longchamp, with the trainer confirming an appeal against the result will be lodged on Tuesday.

Romanised lost out by a nose in a driving finish to Circus Maximus, although the winner had to survive an inquiry with the stewards considering possible interference between the pair in the closing stages.

While the initial result was allowed to stand, Condon believes the circumstances that led to both horses finishing wide on the track and in particular the narrow margin between the pair at the finish, should play a key role when the appeal is heard in Paris.

"The pertinent point is the margin of defeat being so minute," said Condon. "You're only dealing with an inch or several inches at most. The question posed on our side is if he was allowed to run straight would he have won? We think the answer is yes."

Stewards on the day inquired into possible interference as Circus Maximus and Romanised ended the race wide out on the track but concluded that they had both drifted, rather than the winner carrying the second off a true line.

Robert Ng, owner of Romanised, gave the go ahead for Condon to commence the appeal process after watching head-on footage and Condon said on Monday that a bump shortly before the line caused Romanised to switch his lead leg before coming back at his rival in the final strides.

"The first thing to note is that it was a great race," added the trainer. "Six Group 1 winners in the line-up, and two horses separating themselves by having a titanic battle over 300 metres.

"When we saw the head on, you start to think that our horse and rider did everything right, attempted to run in a straight line, but have suffered interference that is very obvious on the head-on.

Circus Maximus and Romainsed pulled clear of four other Group 1 winners in the Prix du MoulinCredit: Martini Jean-Philippe

"He's had to move across the track and very close to the line he's received a bump, where it's very noticeable that he's had to switch leads. Right at the line he's coming back again."

Of interest to both parties as they prepare for the appeal hearing will be the reasoning given by the stewards at Longchamp for their initial findings, much of which centred on the notion that Circus Maximus finished faster than Romanised.

Stewards' secretary Henri Kiriel told the Equidia racing channel that both Ryan Moore on the winner and Romanised's jockey Billy Lee had asserted as much during the inquiry.

Kiriel said: "We rested partly on the evidence given by Billy Lee, who said that his rival's horse finished faster than his, as well as the replay of the view from the inside rail, which showed that Romanised took a marginal advantage and that Circus Maximus fought back to head him."

Circus Maximus and Ryan Moore after winning the Prix du Moulin de LongchampCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Aidan O'Brien was absent from Longchamp on Sunday but has hailed the performance of Circus Maximus, who was adding to his win in the St James's Palace Stakes as well as finishing second to Too Darn Hot in the Sussex Stakes.

"We were delighted with Circus Maximus's run in France," said O'Brien on Monday. "He's a horse who has kept progressing all through the season and a mile looks to be his real trip."

Regardless of the result of the appeal, Condon confirmed that Romanised would not race again this year, with the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury a possible starting point next May.

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