Chachamaidee 'wins' dramatic Matron Stakes Duntle always looked destined for great things after her breath-taking maiden success at Dundalk back in April and the Royal Ascot heroine reached the top when narrowly winning the Group 1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown under Wayne Lordan. However she lost it in the steward's room to Chachamaidee. In truth it could have went either way in the steward's room. Duntle had to wait to secure her run in the straight. She had to force the issue a tad rubbing off Alanza to get her run from the furlong pole and in turn Chachamaidee was slightly impeded. There was only a short head between Duntle and Chachamaidee as they crossed the line with last year's winner Emulous having no more to give near the finish and ending up a half a length back in third. Obviously a steward's enquiry was swiftly called and it was a surprise to many when the judge's placings were amended. David Wachman trains the well-backed Duntle (9/2 into 7/2) for the Niarchos Family whilst the first-time blinkered Chachamaidee was ridden by Tom Queally for Sir Henry Cecil. Queally said: "Your always biased towards your own animal. I felt quite strongly though and expressed my views (to the stewards). "It's not the way you like to win but it was a well-deserved win for Chachamaidee. "It wasn't an easy decision for anyone (the stewards) but I think they've got it right here. "I had intentionally come wide to avoid all the scrimmaging." The market on Betfair initially went 1/50 about Duntle keeping the race. Those odds had drifted to 1/4 before the decision was announced. (GC & EM)
