Rags to riches sprinter Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}-Jealous Again, by Trippi), a listed winner and twice Group 1-placed this season, died on Tuesday morning after suffering a fatal injury on the gallops.
Trainer Denis Hogan tweeted, “We have been dealt a devastating cruel blow at Boherna this morning with the loss of our superstar sprinter Sceptical. He was a horse of a lifetime and a game changer for my training career and everyone at Boherna.”
Bred by Godolphin out of the G2 Queen Mary S. winner Jealous Again, Sceptical was sold by that operation as an unraced 3-year-old at the Goffs UK August Sale last year for £2,800 to James McAuley. He won at second asking for Hogan at Dundalk in November and had won his first three starts this season-including the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas on June 8-before finishing third, beaten a half length, as the favourite in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and second in the G1 Darley July Cup. Sceptical had been due to run in the G3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint S. at The Curragh this weekend.
Sceptical was raced by McAuley with Hilltop Racing, which tweeted, “We had a terrible tragedy this morning as Sceptical was fatally injured on the gallops. He was an amazing horse for us and we'll remember all the great days we enjoyed with him. We'd like to thank [Hogan and jockey Joey Sheridan] and all the staff and we feel so sad for everyone.”
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