Gray Pearl meets an ill-fate despite best efforts of vets and race officials before the Qipco 1,000
It was unfortunate that the Charles Hills trained Gray Pearl, lost her life before she could compete in the Qipco 1,000.
Whelped on 17th March, 2009, the gray filly was euthanised on 6th
May, 2012, after she sustained a “spinal cord injury."
The young runner tried to break free from the opening stalls, but was stuck and could not be moved for quite some time.
The Raymond Mould owned filly could not be released from the stall, and had to be taken in an ambulance, under the supervision of race officials and vets.
The decision to put her down and release her from her misery was made by racecourse vet Simon Waterhouse and Chris Hammond, the attending BHA veterinary officer.
As a result of this event, the race was delayed by 30 minutes.
Rider, Michael Hills expressed his regrets regarding the fate of the runner:
"In all my riding career I have never experienced an incident such as that which happened on Sunday. One moment the filly was standing quietly in the stalls and then all of a sudden she dived down and then did not, or could not, get back up.”
The jockey who mounted her in her two starts appreciated the efforts of all those involved as he further added that:
"The pressure and tension at the start of a Classic, particularly one involving 18 fillies, is significant and yet everyone involved, from the stalls handlers to the vets and the starters, remained completely calm and professional throughout.”
Michael Hills paid tribute to the young runne,r who met her fate too soon and was pleased that she was well taken care of in her last stages.
The three-year-old daughter of Excellent Art, out of Divine Grace, had a short but successful career, as she competed in two races.
She scored a fantastic victory in the Bathwick Tyres European Breeders' Fund Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newbury in August 2011, where she defeated, Ziefhd by 2 lengths, and finished third at Newmarket in October 2011.
Tags: