Drama and tales of woe surrounded Saturday's San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill but there was a big smile on the face of winning trainer Jason Coyle after Va Pensiero won the group three sprint.
Whittington was heavily supported, displacing Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep as favourite before displacing himself in the barrier.
The colt got his forelegs over the front of the stall and was scratched after being examined by vets.
Sidestep was re-installed as favourite at $4.20 but had no luck in the race and finished fourth, prompting a brother-against-brother minor protest when Tommy Berry fired in an objection alleging his twin Nathan on Windjammer had closed a gap on his mount.
All that meant little to Coyle who had been confident he had Va Pensiero fit enough to be a contender even before Whittington was withdrawn.