Those who backed the favourite saw victory slip away when Alabama Lass crashed through a running rail with just 100 metres remaining. The mare responded when jockey Sam Collett delivered a tap with the whip in the Group Three Haunui Farm King's Plate at Ellerslie Racecourse in New Zealand.
Alabama Lass swished her tail, veered sharply to her right and tried to leap off the course, leaving her rider with no chance to remain in the saddle. The incident, on a dramatic Champions Day card, allowed the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Sweynesday to capitalise.
James said his thoughts were with Ken and Bev Kelso, who ought to have secured another first with quirky and talented Alabama Lass, who has amassed over £750,000 in her career so far.
"It's not the way you want to win a race as I was standing next to one of the owners of Alabama Lass, who I know very well, whilst I used to show jump many years ago with Ken and Bev," James said via Racing News.
"I feel for them but we will take it (the win).
"He is a very good horse and wasn't that well weighted today as he was giving weight to Alabama Lass, whilst he also started from the outside barrier."
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Sweynesday's partner, Masa Hashizume, agreed that Alabama Lass would have prevailed, stating: "We were travelling well outside the favourite, and he was coming after her, but he had the luck today."
Alabama Lass and Collett emerged unharmed from the incident, on a day when the victors of the £3million NZB Kiwi (Well Written) and the £930,000 New Zealand Derby (Road To Paris) withstood protests to retain their wins.
"Probably with the weight (58kg) and being in front for so long, she wandered a bit, but she got the job done still," Well Written's jockey Matt Cartwright said after an enquiry examined the tight finish between his mount and Belle Cheval.
"She is a very good horse and you didn't see her best today."
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