Rosscarbery team drops appeal as case is settled over Group 1 disqualification

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has apologised to connections of Rosscarbery for the technical blunder that led to the filly being disqualified from third place in the Pretty Polly Stakes after jockey Wayne Lordan weighed in 5lb light at the Curragh in June.

Lordan, trainer Paddy Twomey and the four-year-old filly’s owner Robert Moran have withdrawn their appeal against the decision of the stewards on the day. None of the appellants was willing to comment on the matter of compensation, but sources have indicated a financial settlement was made.

Moran had paid €30,000 to supplement Rosscarbery for the €300,000 Group 1 and she posted a career-best effort to be third behind stablemate La Petite Coco, which would have earned him almost €30,000 in prize-money. However, when Lordan weighed in it emerged he was 5lb light.

The IHRB on Friday published a report that explained how the error came about. Having commissioned Grant Thornton to undertake a forensic investigation, it was established the display unit linked to the scales is supposed to be set at minus 4lb to cater for jockeys’ safety gear allowance. On this occasion, when Lordan went to weigh out, that allowance disappeared after he stepped off the scales to correct an initial 2lb overweight.

The mistake was put down to the unit not being in locked mode, and it ultimately led to Lordan weighing out 4lb light. That much became evident when he weighed in 4.5lb light and was subsequently disqualified.

At the time, Twomey described the regulator as being "not fit for purpose on the day", and the IHRB has accepted the error was not the fault of the owner, trainer or jockey.

“The IHRB very much regrets the incident and unreservedly apologises to Mr Moran, Mr Twomey and Mr Lordan,” a statement read. When asked if connections had been compensated, the IHRB declined to confirm or deny if that were the case.

The disqualification threatened to cost the filly valuable Group 1 black type. She subsequently achieved that by finishing a neck second to Aristia in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, and is now due to be sold at Tattersalls mares’ sale at the end of the month.

“It was a pity that it happened,” Twomey said on Friday. “Having a first and third in a Group 1 is a very hard thing to do and it was unfortunate that she was disqualified. It is what it is and we're moving on.”

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'The IHRB was not fit for purpose on the day' - Twomey fumes as appeal lodged

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