There was a tragic postscript to the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale when a lorry carrying horses from Newmarket to Spain caught fire. Seven of the 10 horses on board lost their lives but no people were injured in the accident.
Dominick Mahony, the Spanish representative for Tattersalls, said on Friday morning, “It is very sad. The horses were on their way to Madrid racecourse and I believe one of the front tyres burst and the lorry caught fire. It was very windy and the wind fanned the flames which spread very quickly. They managed to get four of the horses off the lorry and three of them have survived but one has sadly had to be put down.”
He added, “I have spoken to all of the new owners of the horses involved and they are devastated. It is a dreadful ending to what had been a very good sale and there were 28 to 30 horses on their way to Spain and Portugal from Tattersalls.”
The accident is reported to have taken place in France and two of the horses on board were on their way to join the stable of Spanish champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta.
He said, “We bought two horses at the sale. Mexico City survived and sadly Wise Counsel did not. He was a lovely colt and it is just terribly sad.”
The Group 3-placed juvenile Mexico City (Fr) (No Nay Never) was bought from Ballydoyle, while 4-year-old Wise Counsel, a 96-rated treble winner for Clipper Logistics and Clive Cox was a horse with a strong connection to Spain as a half-brother to Noozhoh Canarias (Spa) (Caradak {Ire}). The latter was runner-up to Karakontie in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when trained in Madrid by Enrique Leon. He now stands on the stallion roster at Yeguada Torreduero.
Among the Spanish buyers at the sale were trainer Oscar Anaya, who purchased seven horses, and agent Alex Mahony of EAM Bloodstock, who signed for six.
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