An aggrieved Basher Watts has announced he will appeal the decision to demote his filly from first place in the French 1,000 Guineas. The social media influencer who runs his own syndicate had his first runner in a Classic when the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect lined up in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Paris-Longchamp on Sunday.

The daughter of Sioux Nation and jockey Kieran Shoemark finished a nose in front of favourite Zarigana. But the syndicate’s joy turned to despair after the stewards judged Shes Perfect guilty of interference.

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Shes Perfect was found to have edged left into fourth home Exactly, who in turn bumped the fast-finishing Zarigana and officials reversed the placings of the front pair.

Watts was seen celebrating wildly with syndicate members after the field crossed the line but minutes later the fairytale was over when the Longchamp stewards made their ruling.

Shoemark was given a four day ban to add to a total of four days he received after riding the French 2,000 Guineas.

Speaking later on X, Watts said: “I always say you have to be gracious in defeat. So massive congratulations to Zarigana and all of her connections. Two class fillies. They’ve deemed the ride to be enough to give Zarigana the race.

“The only interference that they have deemed worthy against Shes Perfect was just before the furlong marker, we drift to our left and that right there is the only thing she’s done wrong.

"So nothing in the final furlong, nothing in the final half furlong. Just before a furlong out we’ve drifted and they’ve deemed that enough to stop the favourite.”

Barzalona dropped his whip in the closing stages and without it, uses his hand to slap the filly several times down the neck in the closing stages. In France jockeys are limited to four strikes of the whip and the rules only relate to use of the whip, not the hand.

Watts said: “Any jockey exceeding nine strikes would receive instant disqualification. Zarigana was struck two times with the whip and 12 times by hand… 14 strikes.”

While acknowledging he would have been delighted to have finished second before the race., he added: “We are appealing. Of course we’re appealing. In my opinion it’s a farcical decision. When they showed me what it was for, it was laughable.

“However we have a very good filly on our hands. She is our dream horse, She is home safe and sound which is always our main priority, We know there will be another day.

“I am gutted for Charlie. It should have been his first Group 1. I’m gutted for her owners that came on board with only my second horse and at that point I’d never had a runner.

“I’m gutted for the King [Shoemark] who gave her a beautiful ride from the front. Winning a Classic was what he wanted.”

Others agreed with Watts on X, posting: “It makes absolute no sense at all to have rules with how many lashes you can whip a horse but if you drop it then slapping the neck is perfectly acceptable. If anything I’d have disqualified the eventual winner for that ride.”

Another said: “Just having exactly the same conversation myself. I’d be amazed if this isn’t a violation of some description, this must be the focus of an appeal if they decide to make one.”