Horse Racing

Special Duty, Special Circumstances – Controversial 1,000 Guineas Showdown

Being crowned the winner of the 1,000 Guineas Stakes should be a joyous and triumphant event. However, Special Duty’s Sunday victory leaves behind a trail of broken hearts.

From the outset of the field of eighteen outstanding fillies, it was outsider Jaqueline Quest, named for the late wife of owner Noel Martin, who dominated the race. Given 66-1 odds, Jacqueline Quest seemed all set to turn the 1,000 Guineas Stakes 2010 into a story of the uprising of the forgotten contenders. However, race-favourite Special Duty staged a dramatic chase under jockey Stephane Pasquier. The three-year-olds battled fiercely on the final stretch, leaving onlookers gasping as they crossed the line together.

It was after the crossing of the line that hearts were broken. Jacqueline Quest and jockey Tom Queally had crossed the line a nose ahead of the French-trained favourite. However, there had been interference on the final metres. The stewarts made the decision, after a good ten minutes wait which saw Jaqueline Quest’s connections celebrating their charge’s win, to announce Special Duty as the winner. It was argued that Special Duty had not been awarded a fair chance to win, as Jacqueline Quest had cut her off on the final metres.

Special Duty’s controversial win could have cause uproar amongst the bettors, had it not been for the decision made by most bookmakers to pay out both – Special Duty and Jaqueline Quest – to pacify their outraged customers. However, Jacqueline Quest’s connections; trainer Henry Cecil, jockey Tom Queally and Noel Marting in particular, are left to work out how their fairy tale went wrong.

Special Duty on the other hand is now in the running with a chance to become the 2010 British Fillies’ Triple Crown.