Tragedy strikes Carte Diamond (From Gazette & Herald)

Tragedy strikes Carte Diamond

It's over. The most ambitious assault ever made by a Ryedale horse in an international race has been cruelly aborted before it had even begun.

Carte Diamond, trained at Norton by Brian Ellison, was injured in a freak accident while doing trackwork earlier this week and will now not be able to compete in the historic Melbourne Cup - Australia's most famous race, which carries a first prize of more than £1 million - at Flemington next Monday.

Even worse, there are fears that the injury he suffered may threaten his future career.

The four-year-old was being ridden in a routine spin on Flemington racecourse when his jockey, Weichong Marwing, fell from the saddle on the home turn. Carte Diamond galloped on riderless and crashed into a rail at the top of the straight, cutting his hindquarters on a metal stake in the process.

Ellison, who witnessed the accident, was shocked by the outcome, which left Carte Diamond with blood streaming down his limbs from the two deep lacerations he had sustained.

Ellison, who initially described Carte Diamond as being "in a bad way" explained: "We won't know for a few days just how bad the injury is, but he'll obviously remain in Australia for treatment.

"It's bad news all round, but I'm more disappointed for the horse than anything. If the stake went through muscle, there could be big problems. It's such a shame because the owner, Ashley Carr had just arrived in Australia and was looking forward to a good week. We will just have to keep our fingers crossed that the horse is okay."

Carr had forked out some £70,000 to fund Carte Diamond's Australian assault, which became very much a reality after the colt had finished second in the Ebor Handicap at York in August.

His prep run for Melbourne had taken place in the Caulfield Cup a couple of weeks ago and, although Carte Diamond finished out of the money, after meeting trouble in running, he was staying on so well in ninth place over an inadequate mile-and-a-half, that he was beaten little more than four lengths by the winner.

Ellison had been confident that the two miles of the Melbourne Cup would bring out the best in Carte Diamond, and that view was plainly shared by bookmakers bet365, who had priced the Ryedale horse at 10-1 to take the spoils.

Sadly, his big race bid has now been scuppered and the feeling of anti-climax is also being felt back at Ellison's Spring Cottage yard.

Mike Swanton, manning the stable's office, said; "What has happened is a great shame, and the lads in the yard here haven't looked their usual cheerful selves since, because they were all looking forward to the race."

He added: "Having to miss the race is bad enough, but what could be even worse is the injury to Carte Diamond threatening his future career. It's too early to know yet, but everyone is just hoping that what he's suffered is only a flesh wound, and that it hasn't damaged any muscles. We're all just hoping for the best for the horse."

l l

When, seven years ago, Kevin Ryan left his job as assistant-trainer to Ryedale trainer Richard Fahey to strike out on his own, few, if any, could have predicted the meteoric rise to fame this former journeyman jump jockey would enjoy.

From his starting point at Hambleton Lodge, an historic establishment, perched at the top of Sutton Bank, Ryan had only a handful of moderate animals. But, from those modest beginnings has grown a giant-sized achievement, which has reached heady new heights since late summer.

As if winning the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes with Amadeus Wolf at York in August was not a big enough feather in his cap, Ryan has since added a brace of Group One wins to that notable victory.

At Newmarket earlier this month, Amadeus Wolf landed the Middle Park Stakes and at Doncaster last Saturday, Palace Episode pulled-off a 20-1 success in the Racing Post Trophy to crown a magnificent campaign for Ryan, which has spanned some 75 winners and, amazingly almost £1 million in prize money.

His latest high-ranking success came at the expense of names such as Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien, who were both so strongly represented in the Racing Post Trophy that the race had been billed as a showdown between the duo as they went head-to-head for the trainers' title.

It was Ryan, though, who put the pair in the shade. And while Palace Episode's long-priced triumph may have shocked many, it certainly didn't surprise his trainer, who had not been lacking in faith or self-belief about the juvenile's merits.

Although Palace Episode had finished only fifth in the previous week's Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Ryan was adamant that, not only had he been "a little easy" on the horse beforehand, but he had also issued jockey Neil Callan with the wrong instructions.

This time, he wanted a more patient policy adopted and it was, with Palace Episode coming home in front, a length-and-a-half clear of Mark Johnston's Winged Cupid in a famous 1-2 for North Yorkshire in a race, which last year was won by the subsequent Derby winner, Motivator.

Septimus, the odds-on favourite, came out best of Aidan O'Brien's three runners in third place, while Stoute's Best Alibi came fourth.

"To have two Group One winners is unbelievable and is great for everyone at home," said Ryan, who would not be drawn into comparing the relevant merits of Amadeus Wolf and Palace Episode. "They are just two very good horses," added the man, who is proving himself to be a very good trainer.

l l

Wetherby will be the place to be this weekend, with a two-day meeting, highlighted by the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase and the John Smith's Hurdle on Saturday

Grey Abbey, winner of the Charlie Hall 12 months ago, is out to provide an encore for trainer Howard Johnson and jockey Graham Lee. But he will not have it all his own way with the likes of Kingscliff, Take The Stand and Ollie Magern in the line up.

As for the John Smith's Hurdle, Johnson could also be represented by Inglis Drever, winner of last year's Order of Merit series, thanks largely to his win in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

l l

There was no joy for Crow Wood, one of Ryedale's most exciting new hurdling recruits, at Haydock last week. But it was only an unfortunate twist of fate that denied the gelding his second straight win over hurdles.

Sent off as the long odds-on favourite after his wide-margin debut win at Uttoxeter, John Quinn's classy performer was cruising along in front under Russ Garritty when he clipped the second-last hurdle and, as he put out a leg for balance, he slipped and sprawled almost to a halt.

His momentum gone, he gave the lead to the pursuing Spring Breeze, who went on to win by 10 lengths, with Crow Wood filling third spot, a head behind the runner-up Barton Flower.

"It was just one of those things," said Garritty, who has been round the block enough times as a jockey to know that racing, and jump-racing in particular, is nothing if not unpredictable. "He didn't win, but he probably learned more from that incident than if he had done."

Clearly looking forward to better days, Garritty's high opinion of Crow Wood remains undiminished. "He's a good horse," he said, "And he'll be an even better horse in a better race."

Compensation will surely be on the cards for this versatile six -year-old, a winner on the Flat at Epsom on Derby Day in June and likewise talented enough to finish runner-up in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot at York and in the John Smith's Cup, back on Knavesmire in mid-summer.

Updated: 16:49 Thursday, October 27, 2005