HENRY CECIL has broken his silence over the circumstances surrounding Bosra Sham's controversial defeat in the 100th running of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Satarday.
The chestnut was sent off the 4 to 7 favourite to follow up her impressive victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but crucially found her path blocked against the far rail passing the two- furlong marker.
Once switched outside by Kieren Fallon the chestnut made up some of the leeway inside the final 200 yards but could finish only third, beaten a length and a quarter and a short head, behind the Michael Stoute-trained Pilsudski and Epsom Derby winner Benny The Dip.
After the race Fallon faced the press and accepted responsibility, and yesterday the Warren Place trainer seemed in no mood to disagree.
"She never had a chance in any way she was given an impossible task," he said this morning. "They" went a crawl, and she likes to go a decent gallop. Would she have won? She has been beaten a length and a quarter, and if she would have dictated it she would have won six lengths.
"I am not going to say who is to blame it is obvious. I think the whole thing was appalling."
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