Investigation launched after Aidan O'Brien horse 'distracted' by photographer in big race

Racing officials in Ireland have been asked to carry out an investigation into an incident which was alleged to have distracted an Aidan O’Brien runner in a Group 1 race.

The filly Whirl had been beaten a neck after a sustained duel with her stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom earlier in June. She was second favourite for the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday at the Curragh behind the odds-on favourite Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding.

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Under a terrific ride from Ryan Moore, Whirl made her Group 1 breakthrough but only after another battle royale, fighting back after Kalpana appeared to have her measure. The winning margin was a length and a quarter at the winning post.

O’Brien said afterwards: “She’s an incredible filly. She’s just progressed and she loves getting into a fight.

“Obviously we saw that she stays a mile and a half at Epsom. She’s absolutely concrete, really. We knew that obviously she wouldn’t mind the mile and a quarter as she was very impressive in York when she won the Musidora.”

He continued: “Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he got the fractions absolutely spot on. It’s a difficult thing when you are running a mile-and-a-half filly back at a mile and a quarter. You are trying to spread the stamina out over a mile and a quarter without stretching the elastic too long, but he got it absolutely spot on.

“He got the favourite to challenge him and this filly gets a mile and a half so there was no point turning it into a sprint. It was the plan to spread it out and let the two of them get together and see who was going to be the best.

“As they say ‘let the best horse jump the ditch’ after that. Two great jockeys, what can I say about Ryan, day in day out he’s incredible.”

However Moore went on to tell the raceday stewards that Whirl had shied away from a photographer sat close to the track on the other side of the running rail near the winning post.

O’Brien said: “Ryan said he felt 50 yards from the line that she had a look at the camera and he knew he had her then.”

The stewards’ report said: “The Raceday Stewards interviewed Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse, under the provisions of Rule 13 (i), in relation to the conduct of a photographer who was within five metres of the inside running rail approximately 140 yards from the winning post who appeared to catch the eye of the winner causing it to shy from her.

“Evidence was heard from Brian Kavanagh who stated that he did not know who the photographer was but accepted that she should not have been there.

“Having considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards referred the matter, without prejudice, to the Referrals Committee for further investigation to allow Mr Kavanagh time to fully investigate the matter.”