'We're all gutted' - Tom Dascombe left reeling after stable star dies in Dubai

Tom Dascombe has suffered the blow of losing the most promising horse in his Lambourn yard after Felix Natalis was fatally injured in a trackwork accident in Dubai on Tuesday.

The three-year-old colt, who won three races last season including a €100,000 sales race at Naas in September, finished second on his Meydan debut this month and was being prepared for the Dubai Trophy on February 10.

Dascombe said: "Very sadly, Ross Atkinson, who has gone out there to look after him for me, fell off him on the way home from the training track and the horse galloped off and ended up breaking his leg and had to be put down.

"The owners, who have been absolutely brilliant all the way through, are obviously devastated. It's an awful pity to lose any horse, but to lose your most progressive and improving horse, you think to yourself when things can't get worse, sadly they do. We're all gutted."

Dascombe is re-establishing himself in Lambourn following his split from Michael Owen's Manor House Stables in Cheshire after more than 12 years together. The Sleeve It Ltd-owned Felix Natalis, who was out in Dubai with fellow stable star Misty Grey, provided Dascombe with his first winner since moving into Uplands Stables when scoring at Newbury in June.

"That was an emotional victory for me," said Dascombe. "He also won the big race in Ireland and got me back going. To lose him is just heartbreaking."

Felix Natalis: won the €100,00 Goffs Sportsman's Challenge at Naas in SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Group 1-winning trainer started out again with just three horses when moving back to Lambourn in April and, having got his team up to 35, he is expanding by leasing nearby Frenchmans Lodge, from where Harry Dunlop trained until he relinquished his licence.

"I have a lease on Uplands and I'll keep it because the swimming pool is fantastic and we'll take on the other yard and keep pushing forward," Dascombe said.

"I've just signed the contract and we're moving in on February 1 and there will be plenty of accommodation for horses as we're going to have 60 stables. It will also give me the opportunity to house our staff, which is hugely important, as staff accommodation is so rare in Lambourn."

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