Shes Perfect: French Guineas Appeal Planned
- A race result in France was overturned after jockey Mickael Barzalona, riding Zarigana, exceeded the permitted number of strikes, according to France Galop rules.
- Stewards then amended the result after an inquiry.Barzalona appeared to drop his whip near the finish.
- France Galop rules stipulate disqualification if a jockey strikes a horse nine or more times.Watts noted that Zarigana was struck two times with the whip and 12 times...
France Galop has reversed the race result in a stunning move, disqualifying Zarigana and jockey Mickael Barzalona due to excessive whip use. The stewards’ decision came after Barzalona was found to have violated the rules, impacting the outcome and costing Watts a victory initially celebrated by syndicate members. The primary_keyword hear is “France Galop” and secondary_keyword, “jockey.” The jockey struck the horse more times than permitted. Samuel Fargeat, a France Galop spokesman, confirmed the review of key incidents which led to the reversal. The trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, empathized with the Shes Perfect team. This case is a meaningful growth in the sport. For further details, News Directory 3 can provide related updates about the competition’s most exciting events. Discover what’s next as France Galop considers updates to the riding regulations.
France Galop reverses race result due to excessive strikes
Updated may 29, 2025
A race result in France was overturned after jockey Mickael Barzalona, riding Zarigana, exceeded the permitted number of strikes, according to France Galop rules. Watts had originally celebrated with syndicate members.
Barzalona’s actions prompted an objection. Stewards then amended the result after an inquiry.Barzalona appeared to drop his whip near the finish. He then used his right hand to encourage Zarigana.
France Galop rules stipulate disqualification if a jockey strikes a horse nine or more times.Watts noted that Zarigana was struck two times with the whip and 12 times by hand, totaling 14 strikes.
Samuel fargeat, a France Galop spokesman, said stewards reviewed two incidents. The first involved Shes Perfect, Exactly, and Zarigana. The second involved Exactly and Zarigana near the finish line.
Stewards determined the first incident impacted the result, but the second did not. Zarigana’s trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, felt his horse was “unbalanced at the wrong time.”
Barzalona had given the horse “a great ride,” Graffard said. “The inquiry minutes felt long and stressful. We don’t like winning races this way, and I feel sorry for the Shes Perfect team. But this is racing.”
What’s next
France Galop is expected to review its rules regarding acceptable riding techniques and penalties for violations in future races.