Might bite! Horse attempts to savage rival jockey in driving finish

Winning is everything, and three-year-old filly Palomba went above and beyond when trying to pass the post in front at Maisons-Laffitte on Wednesday as she attempted to bite a rival jockey.

Sent off the 3-5 favourite, the Maxime Guyon-ridden Palomba did her best Luis Suarez impression when coming with a strong challenge as she tried to take a chunk out of Francois-Xavier Bertras.

Fortunately for Bertras he escaped unscathed and went on to win the race aboard Lucky Lycra, who was unperturbed by Palomba's antics.

Bertras said: "It was a pretty strange sensation because the filly came alongside and then ducked her head at me while in full flight. It was quite amazing.

"We watched the race back with the stewards and you can see she has me by the arm three times – it was pretty funny to see.

"My filly didn't flinch or break stride but she was quite surprised and didn't understand exactly what had happened. You could say we were as shocked as each other."

BEWARE THE BITE

Four other horses who lashed out . . .

Arcadian Heights

The winner of the 1994 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot had revealed an unsavoury side to his character two years earlier when he was passed by the winner Luchiroverte on his four-year-old debut at Doncaster. Affronted, he lunged at Luchiroverte's hind quarters with his mouth wide open and his ears pinned back against his head. He did it again four starts later in the 1992 Gold Cup; this time it was Drum Taps who felt his wrath after having the temerity to outrun him. The authorities insisted he wear a muzzle on his next run in the Goodwood Cup.

Eminent

Talented enough to win the Craven Stakes as a three-year-old, Frankel colt Eminent never really fulfilled his potential and his attitude turned sour in the 2017 Coral-Eclipse, when he attempted to bite Decorated Knight as the pace quickened. The move was in vain however, as he faded into fifth behind Ulysses.

Savage move: Parish Hall tries to bite eventual winner Postulation at the Curragh in 2015Credit: Caroline Norris

Parish Hall

A surprise winner of the Dewhurst in 2010, Parish Hall was a consistent performer for the duration of his career. His will to win was strong as ever as a six-year-old as he tried to take a bite out of Postulation in a thrilling finish to the Listed Silver Stakes in 2015.

Sir Gerry

The Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup produced a thrilling finish in 2010, but not all competitors were in for a fair fight, with 33-1 shot Sir Gerry lashing out at eventual winner Delegator. The dirty tactics didn't pay off, however, as he lost out by a neck.

Read about how Moonax terrorised staff and horses at the Barry Hills yard: 'You couldn't let him near another horse. He would have attacked them'