European Racing: Dubai Sheema Classic Winner Rewilding Euthanized

On a weekend full of great racing and the opening of Saratoga Racetrack, fans of turf racing all around the world were shocked as one of the top turf horses of the year, Rewilding, break down in the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as Ascot. 

Rewilding seemed to be coming into his own this year with a win in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March during the Dubai World Cup day followed by narrow, controversial win over So You Think in the G1 Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Godolphin Racing-owned, four-year-old son of Tiger Hill out of the Top Ville mare Darara was sitting behind the leaders coming into the stretch of the King George when he broke his left front cannon bone and dumped jockey Frankie Dettori, who was taken to the Jockey’s Room by ambulance but seemed to be mostly unhurt.

However, Dettori was taken off all his rides the rest of the day.

King George winning trainer John Gosden was one of the first to reach Rewilding after the colt broke down.

"I've seen it happen with a horse galloping in a paddock and they feel nothing. The vet was on hand as we gave the horse a final munch of grass and he dealt with it immediately.'' Gosden told thoroughbredtimes.com.

“It’s a tragedy,” Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said in a statement on Godolphin's webpage.

Rewilding had five wins, two places and one show in 10 starts, including three graded stakes wins with both his grade one wins coming this year.

He was the half-sibling of millionaire River Dancer and multiple G1 winner Dar Re Mi.