NEWCASTLE pair Kalapour and Hosier have escaped yesterday’s Wyong Cup tragedy and remain bound for their hometown $300,000 Group 3 Gold Cup (2300m) at Broadmeadow on Friday week.
Trainers Kris Lees (Kalapour) and Mark Minervini this morning reported both horses miraculously had come through okay following a chain reaction which followed Wyong gelding The Mediterranean’s breakdown near the 700m of the Cup (2100m) when he suffered a catastrophic injury to his near foreleg and had to be euthanased.
Only eight of the 14 starters finished the $240,000 Cup normally, with Kalapour and Pretty Amazing losing their riders, and Hosier, Hopeful and Alegron taking no further competitive part.
Kalapour ($4.40 favorite) fell when he could not avoid the stricken horse, and his rider Tim Clark was catapulted into the air and did not fly to Melbourne today to ride Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Hosier ($5.50 third favorite) was severely hampered and attempted to jump The Mediterranean, and his rider Jason Collett eased him out of the race, unsure whether he had sustained an injury.
Understandably, both Lees and Minervini were relieved to see their horses escape serious injury.
“Thankfully all good with Kalapour and he went to the track this morning,” Lees said.
“Provided he continues to do well, he will go on to the Newcastle Cup.”
Lees also has Cleveland, an excellent fourth to Hosier in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on August 19 at his first start for him, going to the Newcastle feature.
Minervini said Hosier (pictured) was fine other than sustaining a nick to a hind leg.
“He went for a swim this morning, and had a pick of grass,” Minervini said.
“Aside from the fact that both Jason (Collett), who was quite shaken afterwards, and our horse freakishly escaped the incident, the other positive is that Hosier goes to the Newcastle Cup without a penalty.
“He was travelling like a winner yesterday and I’m sure would have been hard to beat.”
Racing NSW stewards opened an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of The Mediterranean. His rider Regan Bayliss was dislodged and was unable to fulfil Royal Randwick commitments today.
After taking initial evidence from trainer Sara Ryan, who was understandably terribly upset, the inquiry was adjourned to enable her to provide treatment and veterinary records, and for the results of an autopsy conducted on the gelding.
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