WUNDERWOOD (Faltaat), who had shipped to Australia in hopes of contesting Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup
(Aus-G1),
sustained a fractured left pastern and was euthanized, according to Racing
Victoria. The seven-year-old gelding was midway through his morning exercise
when the accident occurred.
“I hoped he’d pulled a shoe off at the time, but we
were fearful that it was something worse, and I’m afraid it was,” trainer David Elsworth said at a press conference. “It’s the worst kind of thing that can
happen. We live with these horses and we get very close to them. It’s upsetting
and it’s like losing a friend or a member of the family.”
Bred in Kentucky by Darley, the bay didn’t race until four, but developed into a useful handicapper
and captured the listed Braveheart H. in 2005. He had been pointed for the
Melbourne Cup by Elsworth this season and tuned up for his voyage Down Under by
defeating Grade/Group 1 winner Collier Hill (GB) (Dr. Devious [Ire]) in a Salisbury conditions race August 31 in
what would be his final career start.
Wunderwood’s record was 27-9-4-2 with
earnings of 136,234.