Jamie Spencer talks about Secret Gesture disqualification

Jamie Spencer today in his Coral blog spoke about his disappointment at Secret Gesture being disqualified after winning the Group 1 Beverly D Stakes in America on Saturday night.

He said: “Everything worked out perfectly in the race from my eyes. I was able to get across from my wide draw and sit just behind the pace. My horse picked up well in the straight and got the job done. What happened after that was just really disappointing.

“In the final 50 yards of the race my horse shifted out but I felt then, and now, following a review of the race, that she was clear of Stephanie’s Kitten as she moved out. As soon as I drifted across the track I moved my whip into my correct hand to straighten her up.

“Being a jockey or a sportsman, you never criticise your fellow competitors, however, in this situation, I have to say, the way Irad Ortiz Jr behaved going to the line doesn’t fit with what actually happened. Other American riders came to me afterwards and were baffled by the outcome. What Ortiz did was to take a dive, as much as anything else. The amount of ground he got his horse to lose in two strides going to line was like a 45-year old struggling jumps jockey going to an open ditch. It’s just ridiculous.

“I have said nothing since Saturday evening, however, I have reviewed it hundreds of times. If you look at the side on view, he is more than a length behind me. I will give him one thing in his defence, his horse was hanging left the whole way down the straight so maybe she hung onto my heels late but there was no reason to check my horse.

“There is obviously now going to be an appeal. It doesn’t really affect Ralph Beckett or me but it does affect Newells Park Stud and obviously Qatar Racing who jointly own the filly. If she is a Group One winner it helps with their prodigy and they have invested a lot of money in the filly so it is a real shame for them. A Group One victory would make her paddock value a whole lot higher.

“Despite the disappointment, we have to move on as jockeys. I’ve got York to look forward to now this week, if you dont move on, you end up being a bad jockey. I can’t change what happened so my focus will be on this week. That’s the way I am. I watched the video to review the race but that is done with now and I have moved on.”