Charlie Wallis frustrated as Zac Brown is withdrawn after stalls incident

Trainer Charlie Wallis on Sunday expressed his disappointment at the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of Zac Brown at Goodwood on Saturday and suggested the outcome could leave the gelding's owners questioning their future in the sport.

Wallis, based near Colchester in Essex, was gutted after stewards withdrew his eight-year-old, who runs in the colours of Porterhouse Ltd/J Goddard, from a veterans' sprint because they deemed he had broken early under David Egan, causing a false start.

He was then prevented from taking part in the race, which was won by Paddy Power.

BHA officials were satisfied procedures were followed correctly but a frustrated Wallis said: "I'm disappointed for the horse and the owners more than anything as we'd waited for that race.

"When they showed the slow-motion video in the stewards' inquiry, all the latches were up on the stalls and our nose was out at the same time as the others, but we were just quicker than anyone else.

"My instructions to David Egan were to jump sharp and the horse is an old handicapper who knows his job. The horse has been excellent yesterday, quick out, positive."

Goodwood: Sussex track was the scene of the stalls incidentCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The former conditional rider, who started training in 2015, added: "We stressed our points and all the latches were up, but we were just quicker. It might have looked like we'd burst through, but we've just been good at what we do – that's a sprinter's job, to be quick out."

Wallis, who said Saturday's race was their Gold Cup, hopes to take Zac Brown to Chelmsford on Monday for a compulsory stalls test.

"The owners have come home with nothing and we've now got to have a stalls test when we haven't done anything wrong," he said.

"The owners had a box for the day at Goodwood and stayed in a local hotel last night. They've dealt with it professionally. They've invested a few quid in Zac Brown and probably will again, but it leaves question marks."

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