Joy quickly turned to despair for former top trainer Dave O'Sullivan and his wife Marie when their mare Small Talk had to put down after winning her first race at Rotorua yesterday.
Small Talk, trained by their son Lance O'Sullivan, shattered a foreleg soon after winning the Taupo Cosmopolitan Club
Maiden.
Successful rider Vanessa Johnston was cantering the four-year-old O'Reilly mare back to the birdcage when she suddenly collapsed, throwing Johnston to the turf.
Johnston walked away unhurt but Small Talk was found to have shattered a near foreleg and was destroyed, stipendiary steward Alan Coles said.
Small Talk was a $2.65 favourite after running second at her first start at Rotorua last month.
Also sharing in the ownership with the O'Sullivans were Sir James and Lady Fletcher, long-time stable clients who raced champion sprinter Mr Tiz.
There was some consolation for the O'Sullivan stable when Wildgoosechase, a Kaapstad three-year-old filly, later won the Kawerau Cosmopolitan Club Maiden at her second start.
Jockey Allan Peard also had a tough day when the horse he owns, Moumantai, suffered the same fate as Small Talk.
Soon after running eighth in race two, the Align two-year-old was found to have shattered a foreleg and was destroyed, Coles said.
The Bruce Wallace-trained Moumantai was ridden by Rogan Norvall, with Peard sitting out the meeting due to suspension.
- NZPA
