Tragedy has struck the Lindsay Park stable after three race fillies and a broodmare headed to the Hunter Valley were killed in a truck accident near the operation’s Euroa base on Monday night.
RSN reported three fillies owned by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud – Hafaawa (Redoute’s Choice), Maktabba (Per Incanto) and Aladaala (Redoute’s Choice) – plus another broodmare, were killed in the crash, which happened at about 9pm.
The fillies were heading to the Hunter Valley in NSW to start their breeding journeys at Yarraman Park Stud. The accident happened as the commercial horse transport truck was entering the Hume Freeway to start the trip north.
Tom Dabernig told RSN radio station he had never seen anything like the scene that greeted him when he rushed to the accident site.
Dabernig said the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle which rolled, soon after leaving the Lindsay Park complex.
“I can’t recall in my lifetime – with the amount of horses we transport – of there ever being an accident to that extent,” he said.
“The truck was heading towards the highway entrance overpass. Luckily there were no other vehicles around.”
Dabernig praised the brave actions of staff including foreman Darren Bell and first responders in difficult conditions at the accident scene.
Another horse, the Bjorn Baker trained Brazen Beau filly Hybrid Theory, who was heading back to Sydney after running fifth in last Saturday’s Showdown at Caulfield, survived the crash.