Special Duty made it a French clean sweep of the first two Classics of the UK’s Flat racing season after a controversial 1000 Guineas victory on Sunday.
Criquette Head-Maarek’s filly was touched off by Henry Cecil’s 66/1 outsider Jacqueline Quest at the end of Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
However, the placings were reversed in the stewards’ room and Special Duty, the 9/2 favourite, was declared the winner.
Coming on the back of Makfi’s 33/1 surprise in the 2000 Guineas 24 hours previously, it completed a clean sweep for France of the first two Flat Classics of the UK season.
Jim Bolger’s Gile Na Greine, another long-shot at 25/1, was also involved in the finish, rattling home up the rail to take third, just a head behind the front two.
Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative Devoted To You failed to land a blow, trailing home 15th of the 17 runners.
That completed a miserable weekend for Ballydoyle following the disappointing showing of hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas.
