Persian Punch Dies During Race

[pies4ever]

Persian Punch dies during race
HeraldSun Sport
Mark Jeffreys
London
30apr04

AS AUSTRALIAN jockey Kerrin McEvoy took his first steps towards getting his career off the ground in England yesterday, another colourful chapter in that country's horse racing history tragically came to an end.

Grand stayer Persian Punch, one of the country's best-loved horses who was twice placed in the Melbourne Cup, died of a heart attack at Ascot.
The 11-year-old, voted last season's horse of the year in Britain and easily the most popular flat horse in training, collapsed within sight of the finish in his 63rd start, the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes (3200m).

Jockey Martin Dwyer had tears streaming down his face as he cradled the horse's head in front of the main stand.

It made the 18-length victory of French raider Risk Seeker seem insignificant.









After having adopted his usual front-running tactics on heavy ground, Persian Punch weakened alarmingly with 800m left and stopped to a walk inside the final 400m.

The gelding then appeared to stagger before collapsing.

It was later reported that the David Elsworth-trained stayer had suffered a "catastrophic circulation collapse" caused by a major blood vessel rupture.

"It is so very sad, he was the most wonderful horse to train," Elsworth said.

With 20 victories and more than $2 million in prizemoney, Persian Punch more than paid his way.

But it was his sheer tenacity -- he had a heart almost as big as Phar Lap -- which captivated the racing public, his fighting spirit no better illustrated than in two Melbourne Cup appearances.

He ran third behind Ethereal in 2001 after filling the same position behind Jezabeel three years earlier.

Meanwhile, McEvoy will head north tomorrow to ride three Godolphin runners -- Meshaheer, Mister Links and Destination Dubai -- at a mixed jumping and flat meeting at Haydock Park, near Manchester.

The pick of them is Meshaheer, who could easily get him off to a winning start as Godolphin's No. 2 rider in the Spring Trophy Stakes (1400m).

Destination Dubai, one of Godolphin's English Derby prospects, has a tendency to hang in his races and will not be a straightforward ride.

McEvoy rode out at Newmarket on Tuesday morning and was impressed.

"It is certainly a lot different to what I'm used to at home," he said. "Usually I would be riding out at Flemington or wherever, but here it was wide open spaces, which was great."

The 23-year-old is not expecting to captivate his new audience from day one.

"Hopefully, I will have some early success and that will give trainers and owners confidence in me," he said.

There is every chance he will pick up a ride in Sunday's Group 1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Godolphin still to finalise its runners.