Tragedy at Ascot as Beat The Bank suffers fatal injury in Summer Mile win

There was a tragic postscript to the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot as the admirable Beat The Bank, who crossed the line first in the Group 2, suffered a fatal injury.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite for an event he landed last year, Beat The Bank was keen early as he tracked the leaders, but moved closer two out and was driven to victory by Silvestre de Sousa, edging out Zaaki by a nose.

However, he lost his action as the winning post arrived and finished lame as staff at the royal racecourse quickly erected screens around the consistent five-year-old.

He was reportedly able to walk into the horse ambulance and was taken to the on-course stables for further assessment, but could not be saved.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: "Sadly, he suffered multiple and inoperable fractures."

Expanding on that, Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels added: "The horse has had to be put to sleep. He suffered a complicated fracture of his lower near-hind limb and it was irreparable sadly.

"We made him comfortable in the stables, he was x-rayed and the prognosis was such that he couldn't be saved. It was a great performance, but a very sad end to the race."

De Sousa, King Power's retained rider, paid tribute by saying: "He was a special horse and they absolutely adored him at Andrew's yard. It's sad for the Balding team and King Power.

"He broke down just before the line and ran his heart out today. He was one of the chairman's favourite horses and was his first Group winner. It's just so sad to see that happen. He was always there or thereabouts and ran his best again today."

The brainchild of late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who tragically died in a helicopter crash last year, King Power Racing has been a steadily growing and big-spending force in racing in recent years with Beat The Bank, a son of Paco Boy, its flagbearer.

Despite the chairman’s death, the racing operation has continued through Srivaddhanaprabha’s family and King Power Racing had been enjoying a stellar afternoon as Pivoine had struck in the John Smith’s Diamond Jubilee Cup at York, while Mystery Power landed Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes.

“[We won at] York and then the Group 2 at Newmarket – it’s great then awful,” added bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who also acts as an adviser for King Power.

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