Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes report: Tilsit keeps dramatic race in stewards' room

Ryan Moore brought Charlie Hills' charge with a sustained run down the centre of the course to hit the front at the furlong pole.

However, he dived over to the far rail, despite the jockey having the whip in the correct hand, forcing runner-up My Oberon (3/1) to snatch up quickly.

He was never able to recover and was a length-and-a-half away at the line but despite Tom Marquand's protestations, the stewards' decided against amending the placings. Moore was given a five-day ban fo careless riding.

Favourite Khaloosy was third having been unable to muster the pace of the front two.

Winning trainer Charlie Hills said: "Tilsit has done so well. He had two runs at Newcastle which is a completely different track to Goodwood and it was his first start on turf - he has really stepped up.

"It was a good step forward really. He has beaten two very nice horses. We knew coming into today that we would know where we would stand after the race and we are all very excited now.

"Tilsit has come a long way. The guys at home have done a great job at home and Will Kennedy [jump jockey] has been coming in most days to ride and he has done a fantastic job. A lot of thought has gone into this horse.

"We'll see how he is tomorrow morning and go from there - we could maybe come back here for the Celebration Mile."

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "That was a huge step forward. Tilsit has to mature, as he is still very babyish really. You could see that slightly in the paddock beforehand, but he was much better than he was the previous two times. And in the race he has handled it pretty well, but he did wander a bit, no doubt about that. He has some talent, no question. I think fast ground is the key to him, as well. I think he is still a bit goofy and immature.

"I wasn't at all optimistic we would keep the race [following a stewards' enquiry]. He was the best horse, no doubt about that, but it always worries me. Ryan [Moore, jockey] had his whip in his right hand, so that was good, and he has just dived in. He was always going to win, so from that point of view the rules are spot on, but it is always a nervous moment.

"This was Tilsit's first race on turf and so therefore again it's part of the learning curve for him, but he is pretty progressive by the looks of things. Yes, the Celebration Mile here could be a possibility; it is always nice to have a few thoughts about where we go and what to do, but he looks on an upward curve. Trip-wise I think we will stay at a mile."

The interference rules are generating much debate at the moment, and William Haggas was left to wonder what might have been with My Oberon.

He said: “He’s an improver. We weren’t planning to make the running at all – we thought the King Power horse (Mystery Power) would lead and then he got left in the stalls.

“Tom (Marquand) rode a sensible race – I thought the horse was still green. He ran a very solid race and is getting better.

“I haven’t seen a replay of the race, but I’m going to say you couldn’t guarantee the winner was going to win. The winner came to beat him and lay all over him and knocked him over, effectively.

“It’s a bit like running round an athletics track and when someone comes to challenge you, you just push him off the track! It’s a similar scenario.

“Our horse probably wouldn’t have won, but if you’re cycling and pedalling as fast as you can possibly go, and suddenly have to stop to a complete halt, it takes the wheels going round a few times to get back to the momentum you had.

“It’s difficult for me, as I’m involved in this particular scenario, but it just doesn’t look right – you can knock one over and keep the race.

“I don’t know what we do about the rules – that’s one for better men than me. But if everyone feels that is a satisfactory outcome, then I’ve got it wrong, but I really don’t think that’s the case.

“I don’t think it was Ryan’s fault for a minute. The horse dived in and I’ve seen Ryan since and he’s mortified, but he’s a proper bloke.

“It’s not a deliberate act of riding, but the fact is he ground our horse to a halt, and he cannot be expected to gather the momentum to get back up. If he’d got beaten a head, the winner might have been thrown out. I don’t think it makes any sense myself.”