Langness led all the way to "win" the Group Three $125,000 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for fillies only to be denied when stewards determined two of the gates had opened early.

All jockeys were called in to the inquiry where it was established that Bella Inez, ridden by Andrew Findlay, and Nicholas Ryan's mount Jesta Jewel gained an advantage when their gates opened early.

Special Package, ridden by Dale Smith, Serious Impact, handled by Stephen Baster, and Peter Merten's mount Sioux Arrow were found to have been inconvenienced at the start.

After deliberating for nearly 45 minutes, stewards declared the race void.

"It was a tough decision to make but under no circumstances shall a horse get a flying start," a stewards spokesman said.

"Working within the framework of the rules it's the only decision the stewards could have made."

The incident has thrown Victoria's richest two-year-old event, the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 26, into confusion as the order of entry is determined by prizemoney, and officially Langness has not yet raced.

It put a dampener on Australia Day for Adam Sangster who manages the Swettenham Stud Syndicate that races the filly.

Sangster was one of a group of people who yesterday took the pledge of citizenship at the Caulfield meeting after the race.

It appeared that everything had gone to script for the former Englishman with Langness making such an impressive debut, and he explained that the daughter of Danehill and outstanding former sprinter Isca was not sold as a yearling due to leg problems.

McEvoy was stunned after the stewards' decision was announced.

"We're not talking about a maiden. It's a Group Three race," he said. "If you started it 10 times over, she'd win it every time.

"It's a very unfair decision. It's unfair on the connections."

The spokesman said stewards would be having a look at that particular rule, and Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Warran Brown said the club would be calling a special committee meeting today to discuss all aspects of yesterday's no-race.