Two Wolverhampton fatalities in same race described as ‘freak coincidence'

Officials at Wolverhampton have described the fatal injuries sustained by two horses in separate incidents in a claimer at the track on Saturday night as a "freak coincidence."

Tamleek, trained by David O'Meara and ridden by Cam Hardie, and the Paul Cole-trained Shattering, ridden by Cameron Noble, were pulled up almost simultaneously four furlongs from home in the 1m1½f contest eventually won by Scofflaw.

Despite being quickly dismounted, both horses had sustained life-ending leg injuries and were put down. There were no further incidents during the eight-race card.

Fergus Cameron, clerk of the course at Wolverhampton, said: "Nothing unusual has come to light about the fatalities on Saturday night it just looks like a freak coincidence. The BHA veterinary officer happened to be on course and reviewed the evidence and said that the track was fine and it was just one of those coincidences.

"The stewards were also involved and viewed the incidents from every angle and nothing came to light. It was just they broke down independently at the same time."

He added: "We had no issues before the claimer and the rest of the card went by without incident so it seems it was just one of those things."

Tamleek had been rated 107 when trained by Saeed bin Suroor and finished just over a length behind subsequent Derby winner Wings Of Eagles when fourth in the Chester Vase in 2017. Shattering, rated 66, had finished a decent sixth on his previous start in a handicap at Newmarket.

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