‘How can this happen?’ – Punters stunned as promising racehorse dies after freak accident in pool

A highly-rated equine who was favourite for a mouthwatering £3MILLION contention adjacent twelvemonth has died aft a tragic mishap successful a pool.

King Kirk drowned aft completing a h2o enactment during a betterment league successful Sydney, Australia.

The shocking incidental came conscionable hours aft the two-year-old, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, ran successful a proceedings contention astatine his location way of Randwick.

The trainers released a connection to owners connected MyRacehorse.

It read: "Unfortunately, King Kirk has passed distant this day pursuing an incidental that occurred during his recovery.

"King Kirk was routinely swimming astatine the Randwick racecourse equine excavation nether the supervision of his regular handler and foreman, erstwhile helium panicked causing him to swallow a important magnitude of h2o successful the process.

"Despite the efforts by his handlers, ATC (Australian Turf Club), unit and veterinarians, helium sadly could not beryllium saved."

King Kirk was the aboriginal favourite for adjacent year's AU$5m Golden Slipper contention that takes spot successful Sydney.

This was arsenic a effect of a stunning triumph successful the Group 3 Breeders' Plate connected October 5 erstwhile helium swooped precocious to triumph by a caput connected the line.

Stunned horseracing fans were near heartbroken connected proceeding the news.

One posted connected X: "How tin this happen?"

Another added: "Terrible news. Was really truly excited by this horse, particularly aft his proceedings this greeting wherever helium was excellent."

Dave Raj wrote: "Awful quality for @GaiWaterhouse1, Adrian Bott, the broader squad and connections. Sincere condolences."

And Sue Smith succinctly added: "RIP my beauteous Boy 💔 Forever successful our Hearts."

The devastated syndicate owners aboriginal shared a moving tribute to their complaint connected MyRacehorse.

It read: "Our thoughts are with each you, his owners, who loved and supported him, and with the unchangeable unit who cared for him with specified dedication each day,' the connection read.

"We cognize however overmuch this nonaccomplishment volition measurement connected everyone, and we are present to enactment you successful immoderate mode we can.

"Today is simply a hard time for america all, but we instrumentality comfortableness successful the memories of his achievements, his strength, and his spirit.

"King Kirk volition beryllium profoundly missed, but helium volition stay successful our hearts forever."