By MIKE DILLON
It is remarkable what inexperienced horses will sometimes do when spooked.
Highly talented Dragon Tiger proved that when he charged through the running rail at Trentham on Saturday in an incident which could have proved tragic for himself and apprentice rider Sam Spratt.
Dragon Tiger, winner of his last four,
spooked 250m after the start of his dog-leg 1200m race when he spotted a difference in the configuration of the inside running rail.
He had just crossed to the rail from a wide barrier at the point where the running rail changes to a plastic pipe, which is removable to allow access to a gap across the track.
Instead of shying away, Dragon Tiger ducked into it.
When he tried to jump as the running rail resumed at the far side of the gap, he clipped something and fell, throwing Spratt heavily into a ditch.
Spratt was unconscious and came around in an ambulance.
Yesterday she was in Wellington Hospital recovering from concussion and slight bruising of the brain.
"Sam will probably be in hospital for another two or three days," said Spratt's boss, Takanini trainer Colin Jillings, who visited his apprentice yesterday morning.
Dragon Tiger is a mess.
"When he bolted after he got up, he charged into a barbed wire fence on the inside of the track," said Jillings.
"You want to see him, he's shocking. He's torn all over his side."
Veterinary advice was to leave Dragon Tiger in Wellington, but Jillings opted to bring him home.
"We'll turn him out, but he's such a mess he'll be with us here at the stable for a good while."
The Jillings-Yuill stable had better luck later in the day when Critic came with a well-timed run to take the $30,000 Duoro Cup.
Lee Rutherford replaced Spratt on the mare, who flew from her wide barrier draw to dispute the early pace. Rutherford eased Critic back and brought her out at the right time. It was a game win under 57.5kg.
Critic is raced by her breeder Garry Chittick in partnership with Thoroughbred Racing boss Murray Acklin, who must now be delighted the Centaine mare failed to get into foal in the spring.
Takanini stables ended the Wellington carnival on a high note when Ma Gloire was rewarded for her consistency with a runaway win in the $27,500 New Zealand Post 1400.
