THERE are few racehorses quicker out of the barriers than Mary's Grace - you only have to look at this picture of the controversial start to the $100,000 Darley Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury yesterday.
To the naked eye, it appears Mary's Grace, starting from gate 12, has gained a "flyer" on her rivals.
But closer inspection of the stewards' official head-on film of the start revealed a different story.
Mary's Grace had simply anticipated the start better than her rivals and ultimately went on to win the feature mares race.
But trainer Kylie Gavenlock, jockey Grant Buckley and the owners were made to sweat it out for nearly 15 minutes before stewards declared correct weight.
Most felt Racing NSW stewards, headed by acting chairman Jim Walshe, arrived at a commonsense decision not to declare Mary's Grace had received an unfair advantage at barrier rise.
"It's a hard way to win a race - that was heart-stopping," Gavenlock said. "I think I need a stiff drink."
Buckley was sure Mary's Grace did not gain a flyer and said he was confident of retaining the race as soon as he saw a replay of the start.
"I knew they couldn't take the race off Mary's Grace because it was a fair start," Buckley said.
"All the gates had opened at the same time, my mare didn't break through. She just anticipated the start better than the other horses.
"The evidence of the starter, Bernie Evans, was also crucial."
Evans told stewards he had released the field before Mary's Grace made contact with the starting gates.
"I believe Mary's Grace lunged at the barriers after I pressed the button," he told stewards.
Crawley then asked Evans if he felt Mary's Grace had forced her gate open. "No," was his firm reply.
This was apparent after stewards viewed the slow-motion replay of the start a few times. The gates for all 14 runners had clearly been released at the same time, but Mary's Grace lunged forward a fraction of a second after the starter's button was pressed.
The grey mare's gate in stall 12 then sprung open first and she jumped about a half length in front of the field.
Under the rules of racing, if stewards had deemed Mary's Grace had obtained an unfair advantage at the start, they would have had to declare the race void, but Walshe felt the evidence clearly did not support such a finding.
"We feel that Mary's Grace did not gain an improper advantage," he explained.
Mary's Grace ($7) settled on the outside of early leader Imtops until the turn where she sprinted to the lead and held off the late challenge of Lady Game ($6.50) to win by a long-neck with Helluva Party ($26) a similar margin away third.
"It would have been a cruel way to lose the race," Gavenlock said. "She's just a brilliant beginner.
"I remember one day at Randwick she jumped a couple of lengths in front of the field.
"I wasn't sure of the rules but I didn't think it would have been right if the mare had been disqualified.
"They couldn't penalise her just because she's faster out of the barriers than any other runner."
Gavenlock said Mary's Grace will now be set for the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone next month and has not ruled out a possible Brisbane winter carnival campaign.
