The social media influencer, owner of controversially demoted Classic ‘winner Shes Perfect’, claimed performance of filly awarded the prize at Ascot proved stewards made wrong decision
More pain was heaped on social media influencer Basher Watts at Royal Ascot on Friday when hot favourite Zarigana was defeated in the Coronation Stakes. Watts has used his online following to enter the world of racehorse ownership and launch his own syndicates.
He has enjoyed a rapid climb with one of his first horses Shes Perfect proving good enough to tackle Classic company. She lined up in the French 1,000 Guineas as a plucky outsider but ended the race as the first past the post, defeating local favourite Zarigana by a nose.
However Longchamp stewards determined that Shes Perfect was guilty of interference which impacted fast-finishing favourite Zarigana who was awarded victory with the Watts filly placed second.
Watts, trainer Charlie Fellowes and jockey Kieran Shoemark returned to France to argue that the stewards made the wrong call but lost their appeal.
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Shes Perfect was well beaten on her next start in the French Oaks while Zarigana went off the 6-4 favourite to provide a real example of her talent in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.
Yet the Aga Khan filly came up short again, making smooth progress to get to the lead only then get outbattled by 33-1 chance Cercene, a first royal meeting winner for trainer Joseph Murphy.
Fellowes could not resist a dig at the second, writing on X, “And that is precisely why the Pouliches should never have been taken away from Shes Perfect.”
Watts, who calls his filly ‘Sue’, posted his own reaction on the social media site. He said: “The positive is that the French 1,000 Guineas form has been franked. Zarigana was there, put her head in front in the final furlong, she should have won. It proves that the French form is franked.
“The negative is it proves there is no way in hell that race should have ever have been taken away from her. Sue battles, Sue battles, Sue battles. Zarigana loves to put her head up and get beat.
“They have to overturn a race if there is no question whatsoever the inconvienced horse would have won. There has to be so many questions whether she would actually have gone past.
“In my opinion she was never ever ever going past. It brings the pain all back.”