Derby tragedy as Norman's Cay dies in heartbreak for famous football agent
The football agent's joy at winning the first juvenile race of the Flat Turf season in March turned to despair at Epsom when Norman's Cay went wrong
The Derby meeting began in tragic circumstances for football agent Kia Joorabchian when winning two-year-old Norman's Cay sustained a fatal injury.
Big-spending Amo Racing will bid for Derby glory on Saturday when 66-1 chance Tuscan Hill lines up in the £1.5 million Epsom Classic. Joorabchian came close to winning the race two years ago when King Of Steel finished second and again in 2021 with Mojo Star, who also finished runner-up. Norman's Cay posted a statement win for Joorabchian's big-spending Amo Racing when he captured the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster in March, the first two-year-old race of the British Flat Turf season.
He lined up for his second start in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Friday as an 11-1 chance under Amo's jockey David Egan.
His trainer Richard Hannon was optimistic he would run well, writing in his Unibet blog, 'We deliberately decided to give him a break after winning the Brocklesby to allow him time to grow and fill out, and he has done really well.
'We were looking at going to Sandown last week, but it was plenty dry enough, and there's a bit of rain forecast on Friday, which we feel will help because he won at Doncaster on Good to Soft.
'We've won this race with some nice horses down the years, and hopefully this lad is up to that standard, at least.'
However the race did not go to plan as Norman's Cay was hampered early in the race and though recovering to launch a challenge with two furlongs to run, he went wrong a furlong out.
He was led onto a horse ambulance and removed from the track for further assessment by vets but he had suffered a significant injury.
A spokesperson for Epsom Downs Racecourse said: 'Having sustained an injury in the closing stages of the second race on Ladies Day, Norman's Cay was taken back to the racecourse stables for further assessment by our expert veterinary team.
'In their assessment, it was concluded that the best course of action for the horse's welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. Our heartfelt condolences are with Richard Hannon, his team and all at Amo Racing.'
Amo Racing analyst Charlie Sutton posted his own tribute and said: 'Very sad to lose Norman's Cay at Epsom today. He was very well cared for at Richard Hannon's during his short career and again by the vets at the track.
'Can talk about what a nice horse he could've been for the team but ability is irrelevant in these circumstances really.'
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