Photo-finish drama! Wrong result called in Perth finale

There was high drama after the last race of The Perth Festival on Friday, with the result of the bumper reversed almost an hour after the incorrect winner was called by the judge following a photo finish.

The Mickey Bowen-trained pair, Ksar D'Oudairies and Fiskardo, fought out the finish to the Every Race Live On Racing TV Open National Hunt Flat Race, and the judge called Ksar D'Oudairies the winner after observing the photo finish. 

Concerns were gradually raised, including on social media, that Fiskardo was actually first past the post, and the result was eventually amended. 14-1 chance Ksar D'Oudairies, who is a stablemate of Fiskardo, was the correct winner of the race, and secured the verdict by a nose under Shane Fenlon.

Bowen was among those who raised concerns that the initial announcement of the result following the photo finish was incorrect, and was observing the Racing TV screen on track. 

Racing TV presenter Gordon Brown joined Anthony Dunkley on Racing TV to explain more about the bizarre incident. He said: "It's a controversial end to a really good three-day Perth Festival. I was analysing the race live on Racing TV Extra, and Mickey Bowen actually walked past me and saw our still on the line, and he thought Fiskardo had got it, but I wasn't sure, as you never know with these angles.

"When the judge called it that Ksar D'Oudairies had beaten Fiskardo by a nose, I'm not going to argue with that! The Bowen camp were obviously happy because they had the first and second no matter what way the result went. 

"The weighed-in was announced and bookmakers paid out on what they thought was the 4-1 winner. It was nearly 6pm when I heard an announcement from the judge talking about the revised result. I went to the weighing room, and the stewards' advised me they had reversed the placings. What's happened? It's human error.

"What I've heard has happened is that the judge has called the winner in his judgment at the time by a nose, but then a photo-finish operator alerted him to say he better have another look at it. He's seen a blown-up version, and he's changed his mind.

"I'm afraid, at this moment in time, if you've backed the horse that has got the race, it's after the weighed-in, and that's the way things stand for betting purposes."

The BHA stewards' report said: "An enquiry was held to establish the circumstances surrounding why the judge incorrectly announced Ksar D'Oudairies as the winner and Fiskardo as the second-placed horse, before subsequently re-announcing the correct result after the weighed-in signal was given. 

"The judge, photo-finish operator, and the chief steward were interviewed. Having heard their evidence, a report was forwarded to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration."