Racing: Ad Alta second blow for Gillies

WELLINGTON - There was not the slightest suggestion top mare Ad Alta was unwell prior to her death in Melbourne on Saturday, trainer Tony Gillies said yesterday.

Ad Alta collapsed during her preliminary to the group two $A250,000 weight-for-age Craiglee Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. She fell through the inside running rail and died some minutes later.

Gillies said all looked well with the Kenfair 4-year-old grey in the lead-up to the race.

"She was completely normal," Gillies said.

"She looked well; looked a million dollars."

Not long after Gillies was seen running around to the 2200m mark at the Flemington course to where Ad Alta had fallen to the ground with New Zealand jockey Leith Innes looking on helplessly.

Gillies said the signs were obvious little could be done for Ad Alta when arrived with the horse.

"Her tongue and gums were white. She was dying."

His only consolation was that she appeared to pass away without great distress.

"She was never really distressed. She was dying and that was it."

Saturday's Craiglee was to have been Ad Alta's second race of a Melbourne spring campaign that was being gear towards the $A2 million weight-for-age Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28.

She had resumed on a bold note when a fast-finishing and close third to Go Flash Go in the group two $A200,000 weight-for-age Liston Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on August 26. Go Flash Go went on to win the Craiglee.

Ad Alta was bred and owned in Auckland by Peter Payne of Wellsford.

Payne was on hand for yesterday's race and he was in tears as he looked at Ad Alta lying on the ground in front of him.

Gillies said Payne had been around racing long enough to be aware that such incidents happen from time to time but that did not ease the hurt.

"It doesn't make it any easier when it does happen," Gillies said.

"He's pretty upset about the whole thing."

Gillies said it was suspected Ad Alta had suffered a heart attack but the cause of death would clearer today when he expected details of an autopsy to be available.

Ad Alta had a terrific record and had been one of New Zealand's top female horses with 14 starts for seven wins including one at group one level and a stakes total of $400,000.

The tragedy of Ad Alta came one year after Gillies had lost his top jumper Tassenberg in a bizarre incident during the running of the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Ellerslie last August.

Tassenberg broke a leg and had to be destroyed when he cannoned into a horse who was trying to regain his feet after falling. Tassenberg had won 14 races including the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and last year's Waikato Steeplechase.

- NZPA