Zarigana has been confirmed as the winner of the 1600m Poule d'Essai des Pouliches after the appeal placed by Shes Perfect’s connections was rejected.

Longchamp's raceday stewards deemed that Shes Perfect drifted left-handed off a true line, causing a knock-on effect to the Ryan Moore-ridden Exactly, who then in-turn bumped Zarigana. The Aga Khan Studs' filly proceeded to run on strongly to finish a nose behind Shes Perfect, with the on-course officials taking the view that the interference cost Zarigana more than the margin of her defeat.

Zarigana's jockey Mickael Barzalona also dropped his whip in the closing stages, after which he proceeded to strike his mount on the neck with his hand to encourage her forwards.

Shes Perfect's trainer and rider, Charlie Fellowes and Kieran Shoemark, were both in attendance for an hour-long hearing in Paris yesterday afternoon.

However, France Galop revealed this afternoon that the three-person panel did not find sufficient evidence to change the result, leaving Zarigana as the winner of this year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for Francis-Henri Graffard, Mickael Barzalona and the Aga Khan Studs'.

A disappointed Charlie Fellowes told the PA: "I didn't really know what to expect, I think it was a really difficult decision to make,"

"The front-on camera looks awful but from the camera behind and overhead it looks as if she's done very little.

"It was a very, very hard case and I'm sure it wasn't a decision that was taken lightly.

"Obviously I'm absolutely gutted. I've got 40 horses in and to win a Classic is huge for us and to have it taken away under these circumstances is difficult.

"It's gutting, but I completely respect the decision and maybe there'll be a rematch at Ascot in June."