Mutamam takes the honours in Canada

Alec Stewart`s Mutamam was eventually announced the winner of yesterday`s controversial Canadian International at Woodbine, Toronto - the sixth leg of the Emirates World Series.

Following a number of objections, including one against the winner, it was some time before the result was officially confirmed.

After surviving the objection, the son of Darshaan, returned at 4.25-1, claimed the race with the Andreas Suborics-ridden Paolini finishing half a length second.

Zindabad, trained by Mark Johnston, crossed the line in third place but was found to have caused interference inside the final furlong and was disqualified and placed sixth.

Sir Michael Stoute`s Daliapour, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, crossed in fourth place but was found to have interfered with Strut The Stage in the first bend of the race and was disqualified to seventh.

In a day full of drama, it was also announced that there was a dead heat for fourth between the Don Burke-trained Falcon Flight and Mark Frostad`s Strut The Stage, who was the 2.65-1 favourite.

After the race, winning jockey Richard Hills said, 'The race went very well and it was good to get him settled in the race. This track really suits European runners.'

Asked about the lengthy stewards inquiry, Hills added, 'I did not feel that I had hit the second horse and after I watched the replay I could see that I had made no contact at all. After the decision I felt that they were very professional stewards.

'I was pleased to win this race as it is a World Series event which is very important to us. It has really been a weekend I will never forget.'

On Saturday, Hills landed two races at Ascot including the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes with Godolphin`s Summoner, the pacemaker at 33-1.

Victorious trainer Alec Stewart said: 'I am very pleased that Sheikh Hamdan has left this horse in training as we have had a lot of fun with him. We will not make a decision on where he runs next until we have discussed the issue with the owner.'

Murtagh, who had ridden an amazing race earlier in the afternoon to claim the Grade One E P Taylor on Choc Ice, said of Daliapour: 'He ran well, he was in a great position, just following the winner, but at the top of the stretch he stopped running hard. I guess he just didn`t have the kick.'

In the race for the Emirates World Series championship Mutamam now moves into equal third place on 12 points behind leaders Galileo and Fantastic Light. Paolini is now closing on the leaders with nine points.

Andreas Wohler, trainer of Arlington Million winner Silvano and Canadian International runner-up Paolini, takes the lead in the trainer`s championship with 25 points, one point ahead of Aidan O`Brien.

Wohler commented: 'It was so close to the finish that it was fair they did not award the objection to us. My jockey insisted that his horse was hit but also agreed in the fairness of not giving the objection to us as it was so close to the finish line.'

The next leg of the Emirates World Series takes place on Sunday with the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere at Longchamp.