Dar Re Mi’s disqualification after she was first past the post in the Group One Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September was a blow to the duo but the focus of the incident centred on the harsh French stewarding rules rather than a strain on the jockey-trainer relationship.
Jimmy Fortune was wise to the plan and switched Dar Re Mi to the inside rail in order to take advantage of the same artificially created gap. However, in the process of making the manoeuvre, Fortune's mount hampered the German runner Soberania and after lengthy deliberations, Dar Re Mi was demoted to fifth place with Soberania promoted to fourth.