Kingswood’s boilover Caulfield Cup victory over West Aussie star Cosmic Crusader has been marred by a horror fall and the death of Ohope Wins.
Kingswood led home a brace of grey horses in the 2400m Group 1, as a fall unfolded behind the leaders on the home turn.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winner Half Yours, ridden by star WA jockey Mark Zahra and Ohope Wins both fell at the top of the home strait.
Half Yours was caught in limited room and clipped heels before Ohope Wins for Jye McNeil, who was trailing last year’s victor, went over him.
Both jockeys were conscious after the fall, but Zahra was transported to hospital for further observation. Half Yours was able to walk back to its stables. Ohope Wins was euthanised due to catastrophic injuries.
The incident caused a delay before the final race of the day.
The Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood, a $26 longshot, loomed on the final bend and came charging down the outside to grab the front at the 200m.
Saint George ($11) stayed on into second place to give their UK-based sire a quinella but came up a half-length short on Kingswood in an emotional triumph.
WA’s Cosmic Crusader ($4.60f) was sent forward by William Pike and obtained a cushy trail throughout and got clear air on the final bend.
However, he could not sprint with Kingswood and finished a length-and-a-half fourth.
Gavin Bedggood broke down after the race in a watershed triumph for the rising trainer, saying the entire had bounced off his fourth placing in last weekend’s Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m).
“He felt the ground last Saturday,” Bedggood said.
“He had a couple of days in the salt water at the beach and he came home.
“We haven’t had to do anything with him all week. It’s just been about managing him.
“I’m rapt with my owners for backing me. Everyone wanted to question mark the mile-and-a-half. It’s great.”
Winning hoop John Allen credited the conditioner’s effort to get the horse up for a new peak this weekend.
“Unbelievable effort by Gavin. He had the horse spot-on for today,” Allen said.
“He’s a trainer going places and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more of him long after I retire.”
Allen explained the horse appreciated the class and weight drop today and benefited from clear sailing after drawing gate 20.
“He’s been going super this prep. He was super first-up, and he’s been competing against the best the last couple of starts. Dropped in weight today,” Allen said.
“It was a little bit of a messy race. We were three wide early, but he was in nice rhythm, and I didn’t want to keep pressing forward with him to light him up.
“I felt a bit of a wave coming around me at the 1200m, so I was happy to let that go and tacked them into the race.
“He cantered up to them and put them away.”