‘We feared the worst’ – All hell breaks loose as £3million horse causes carnage before big race

TRAINERS, jockeys and TV presenters were ‘fearing the worst’ after a £3million horse caused carnage when getting spooked in a morning gallop.

Via Sistina, a Group 1 winner for English trainer George Boughey just last year, ran loose for three laps after throwing jockey James McDonald to the floor in a dramatic series of events.

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James McDonald was chucked to the floor in heart-stopping scenes as Via Sistina ran free[/caption]

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TV presenter Amy Yargi ran in to try to stop the runaway filly but it proved worthless[/caption]

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Other trackworkers rushed to the scene to try to calm the horse as she ran wild for three laps[/caption]

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Via Sistina gallops free after the dramatic unseat during morning workout[/caption]

The horse, who was sold from Boughey’s yard for £2.8m last December, is preparing for Saturday’s £2.5m Cox Plate race at Moonee Valley in Australia.

She took to the track for a public workout on Tuesday but hope turned to fear when she got spooked by some of her equipment.

After unshipping McDonald, track workers and even TV presenter Amy Yargi jumped in to try to calm the mare and get her to stop.

But it proved futile, with Via Sistina galloping the track as a loose bandage and other equipment flapped between her legs.

Fortunately she was caught around three laps later and, luckily, completely unscathed from the almighty scare.

Trainer Chris Waller said: “When I first saw it, I feared the worst and that something tragically might have gone wrong.

“That hasn’t happened, she’s safe. She doesn’t have any hair missing. There’s no blood, no skin off. Her heart rate’s back down.

“While it’s disappointing, I’m grateful the horse is 100 per cent.

“It’s not ideal but it’s great theatre, one I didn’t want to be part of.

“She’d normally be having a quiet gallop on Thursday. That’ll be abandoned if it’s not required.

“She’ll just have very light cantering and a trip to the beach to let her chill out.”

While jockey McDonald added: “She was working brilliantly and obviously got tangled up there with a loose bandage and tripped herself over.

“I’ve got a little bit of a sore shoulder as you’d probably expect falling that way. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

A late call will be made on whether she is OK to line up in the prestigious Group 1 contest.

Meanwhile, punters were absolutely bowled over by the scenes captured on camera.

One called it ‘one of the most remarkable racing moments of 2024’.

While another said: “Insane footage, how about the whiplash on James when he hits the turf?”

Via Sistina is around 7-2 to claim the Cox Plate – while she can also be backed at around 25-1 for next month’s Melbourne Cup.

The former Boughey inmate will be up against British runner Docklands in the Plate.

The Harry Eustace-trained colt, last seen finishing behind City Of Troy in York’s Juddmonte Stakes, is around 12-1.

The Cox Plate forms part of a huge month of racing Down Under – which also saw this ‘crazy dangerous’ moment last weekend.

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