Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns dies at stud from colic aged eight

Kingsbarns, winner of the Racing Post Trophy in 2012 when trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by his son Joseph, has died at stud as an eight-year-old after a bout of colic.

South African-based Drackenstein Stud Farm, where Kingsbarns had been standing, shared the news on its website.

A statement read: "Kingsbarns passed away from colic [on] Wednesday night – a sad loss to the Cape stallion band at the age of eight."

Death of former trainer Fytche

Former trainer Graham Fytche, who had spells as head lad to Kim Brassey, Stan Mellor and Frank Jordan, has died aged 66.

Originally from Lincolnshire, Fytche, better known as Fred, moved to Lambourn, where he worked for Brassey and Mellor before being given the chance to train for Sheikh Mohamed Al Sabah at Sparsholt. Among the horses he handled was the talented sprinter Sharp Romance.

Graham 'Fred' Fytche: well known in Lambourn

After a short spell out of racing, Fytche returned to work for Jordan and then operated a business with a friend clipping horses before illness made that more difficult. He remained a passionate and avid follower of racing throughout his life.

His funeral will take place at Hereford crematorium at 1.30pm on Wednesday, May 23. Family flowers only. Any donations can be made to the Injured Jockeys Fund and Pancreatic Awareness.

Owner disqualified after admitting neglect

Tracey Dawn Davis, 49, has been disqualified from keeping horses for 20 years after neglecting ex-racehorses He's A Leader and Buds Bruvver, who both had to be put down.

Worcester magistrates were told the horses were found by RSPCA officers following an anonymous tip, and Davis admitted neglect.

She was also sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for one year, and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay £614 in costs.

A seizure order was put in place for the remaining five horses owned by Davis, in the event she fails to rehome them in the 21 days the court has allowed her.

He's A Leader, who was 19, won four times over hurdles for Martin Pipe from just eight career starts, while Buds Bruvver, who was nine, was winless in six starts on the Flat for Brian Baugh.

Extra fixtures

Horse Racing Ireland has announced two additional Flat meetings at Navan on Wednesday, June 6 and at Naas on Monday, June 18.

The Naas meeting will feature the Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes which was due to be held at Cork the day before – the five-furlong course at Cork is not yet fit for racing.

Daly stalwart Brisland airlifted to hospital

Helen Brisland, long-time travelling head girl to Henry Daly, was airlifted to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday after an accident on the gallops.

Daly, who visited her the next day, said: “She's been diagnosed with a trauma injury to the spinal cord.

“Helen came off a horse on the gallops and was flown by air ambulance to Birmingham. She's in excellent hands. Everyone is thinking of her and wishing her a full recovery.”

Live streaming of Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards

For those hoping to keep up with the latest winners at this year’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, which takes place at the Knightsbrook Hotel, in Trim, County Meath next Monday (May 21), Horse Racing Ireland has announced the proceedings will be streamed live.

Streaming will begin once the awards ceremony is underway at approximately 9:15pm and can be accessed through studandstablestaffawards.ie.

A total of 24 finalists have been shortlisted for eight of the ten award categories, which carry total prize-money of €84,000, an increase of €4,500 from 2017.

The finalists were shortlisted from almost 350 nominations, the highest number received since Godolphin’s sponsorship of the awards began in 2015.

Richard Forristal, editor of the Racing Post in Ireland, will act as MC on the night and the trophies will be presented by RTÉ GAA analyst and former All-Ireland Meath footballer, Colm O’Rourke.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com