Golden Rose Hopeful Delago’s Lad Tragically Dies During Trackwork

Delago's Lad

Delago's Lad passed away during trackwork at Mornington today

Talented three-year-old Delago’s Lad was the victim to a suspected heart attack this morning whilst completing his track work at Mornington Racecourse.

The Delago Brom gelding, who was trained by John McArdle, was in the process of pulling up from his workout when he collapsed and died.

McArdle’s wife was aboard Delago’s Lad at the time of the incident but was lucky enough to escape unharmed.

Delago’s Lad had been nominated for this Saturday’s $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

He was also an early nomination for next month’s Caulfield Guineas for three-year-olds and was preparing for a big spring racing carnival campaign.

The gelding had raced seven times during his short horse racing career, posting his only win in the Routley’s 2yo Plate at Sandown in January.

Delago’s Lad most recently finished fourth behind Golden Archer in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 27.

The horse was purchased from the 2010 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $75,000 and had already accrued almost $117,000 in prize money across his seven starts.

This is the second tragedy to occur for a Melbourne trainer in the past three weeks, with Pat Carey’s Cedarberg dying under the very same circumstances during a track gallop at Moonee Valley.

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