Tony Bloom was short-changed by a jockey in Australia, according to a complaint which has caused a big stir in the world of racing.
Zac Purton was told he gave Bloom’s star performer Lake Forest “about the worst ride I’ve seen in my entire life” by Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant of trainer William.
[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/?ref=au) chairman Bloom is co-owner of the four-year-old and his thoughts on Purton’s performance in the saddle are not known.
Lake Forest finished last of 12 runners in the Gorup 1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
His result is unlikely to have tarnished an excellent sporting Saturday for Bloom, who watched Albion beat Newcastle while his table-topping investments Union St Gilloise and Hearts won.
Bloom also had a [first place at Ascot with Crown Of Oaks.](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/25554027.albion-chairman-tony-bloom-enjoyed-horse-racing-joy/?ref=ed_direct)
But Maureen Haggas believed the expense to which Bloom and fellow owner Ian McAleavy had gone was not adequately rewarded.
Speaking at Kempton on Wednesday on Racing TV, she said: "Lake Forest never had a race. It was about the worst ride I've ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled.
"I don't know Zac Purton at all, but it was just dreadful and so disappointing. Everyone knows you have to tell him he's got to do it and he was told it, but he just sat there. I was horrified.
"We'd gone all that way at huge expense on the owners' part and it just makes you realise how lucky we are we have the jockeys in England, Ireland and France, when you compare them to the rides ours got on Saturday over there, which were really shockingly awful."
Purton has since responded via Australian media, saying: She's got her opinion, which she's entitled to. I thank her for her advice but I haven't had time to watch the replay yet because I've been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20 million Everest!”
Two months ago, Mureen Haggas called on Ascot to improve the overall quality of Shergar Cup jockeys, saying she felt the standard of riding was not “as high as it should be”.