A
half-brother by Snitzel to Australian Horse of the Year Winx, Group III winning
stallion El Divino has been euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury at
trackwork on Friday.
Racing.com reported that "the Darren Weir stable confirmed the
four-year-old fractured a cannonbone in the last 200 metres of an 800-metre
gallop at Ararat, from which jockey John Allen emerged unscathed and was able
to fulfil his engagements in the jumpouts that followed."
Retained to race by his breeder John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, El
Divino dead heated with Astern in the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes at two
and Widden Stud subsequently bought into the colt.
His best recent performance was a good half length second to Brave Smash in a
Listed race at Moonee Valley in September.
A full brother El Divino topped the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
in 2016 fetching $2.3 million. Named Boulder City, he is yet to either trial or
race.