RANK 66-1 outsider Coeursamba survived a stewards’ enquiry and Mother Earth charge to land the French 1000 Guineas in a controversial finish.
The huge longshot had only one victory to her name, which came all the way back in last June.
But she showed major guts and determination to see off English 1000 Guineas winner and big 6-4 favourite Mother Earth under Cristian Demuro.
However, the result was in jeopardy moments after the finish as a stewards’ enquiry was called to check for interference.
It looked like the winner hampered the Ralph Beckett-trained Lullaby Moon
But after a delay of more than 20 minutes the result was allowed to stand.
Winning trainer Jean Claude Rouget pocketed a mammoth £255,089 for landing the one mile race.
Aidan O’Brien, who saw Mother Earth come first at Newmarket on May 2 under a brilliant ride by Frankie Dettori, had a runners-up consolation of £102,053.
Dettori was not in the saddle for the showpiece French race and Christophe Soumillon took the ride instead.
Rouget said: “It’s a pleasant surprise.
“I knew she had quality and she had already shown me that double acceleration that the good horses have.
“After that I really didn’t know. She could have been fighting for first or eight, it looked a very open race.”
O’Brien could at least celebrate St Mark’s Basilica landing the 2000 Guineas under an assured ride from Ioritz Mendizabal.
The jockey took the ride after racing chiefs suspended Pierre-Charles Boudot for three months following his rape charge, which he denies.
St Mark’s Basilica triumphed at 9-4 ahead of 80-1 shock Colosseo and 25-1 chance Breizh Eagle in third.
The O’Brien three-year-old is now 4-1 from 10-1 for the Irish 2000 Guineas.
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