One of Scotland’s top racehorses has been killed in a freak road accident.
Scotland’s hero of the Cheltenham Festival, Brindisi Breeze, was struck by a fuel tanker after bolting from trainer Lucinda Russell’s yard near Milnathort.
The six-year-old jumped out of his paddock at Arlary House Stables in the early hours of Saturday morning and ran on to the eastbound carriageway of the A977.
The shocked HGV driver contacted the police shortly after 2am to report the incident, after pulling in to a layby, but the famous animal was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brindisi Breeze was the first Scottish-trained Festival winner in 10 years when he sensationally trounced the field in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in March.
Unbeaten in four races over timber, he was the subject of a huge morning gamble at Cheltenham and his trainer was preparing for a winter campaign over fences.
Ms Russell paid a poignant tribute to the prize steed, owned by Sandy Seymour.
”To go from the pride of standing at Cheltenham watching Brindisi and jockey Campbell Gillies stride up the hill to victory, to the devastation of today’s bizarre incident leaves me deeply saddened,” she said.
”With the love and care given to these wonderful athletes, to lose any of them is difficult, but when it is a horse who has achieved so much in his short life it is deeply upsetting. It will be hard to overcome.”
She continued: ”Here at Arlary we have a strong team of owners, horses and staff who have all been affected by Brindisi’s greatness and his loss.
”Each of us have special memories of him, and we will never forget his honest nature and his talent.”
A spokesman for Tayside Police stated: ”We received a call shortly after 2am on Saturday to say a horse had been hit by a tanker. Officers attended but the animal was found to be dead.”
Photo PA Wire