‘We've never seen this before' – ITV Racing presenters stunned by 'embarrassing' flag start at Goodwood races
Punters branded the start to the mega-money Nassau Stakes 'absolutely embarrassing'.
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The starting stalls were not used for the Group 1 Flat race - something the ITV team and jockey Ryan Moore had never seen before
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Biblical rain hit the track but it was thunder and lightning that forced the flag start
Credit: Getty
The Sussex track was helpless amid a torrential 25mm downpour on the third day of their Glorious festival.
But it was the thunder and lightning overhead that sparked a very unusual start to the 1m2f contest for fillies.
In Flat races, horses always break from the starting stalls.
But the dangerous weather meant they couldn't use them here, with a flag start - like the ones seen in jumps racing - having to be employed.
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The ITV hosts including Ed Chamberlin and Sun Racing's Matt Chapman said they had never seen a flag start used for a Group 1 - the top-tier level of races.
It didn't stop winner Whirl, though, who thrived in the mud for winning trainer Aidan O'Brien and drenched jockey Ryan Moore.
But even the globetrotting rider said he had never raced in a Group 1 from a flag start before.
There was nothing in the stewards' report about the rarely seen move but Chamberlin declared on the main channel: "We've never seen this before."
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Officials were given no choice but to resort to the flag given the weather.
But punters thought the race - which saw Whirl win over £340,000 for her owners Coolmore - should have been delayed to ensure a proper start.
One viewer wrote on X: "A flag start in a Group 1 is absolutely embarrassing. Unacceptable.
"Delay or abandon. You can't start Group 1 races that affect the breed like it's a 3-mile chase at Haydock."
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