King Kirk, a two-year-old colt on a path towards paydays totalling $4.5 million in the next four months, drowned in a training pool accident at Randwick on Tuesday.
The Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott-trained colt ran fourth in a 740-metre trial on Tuesday morning, enough for jockey Tim Clark to say he “was going to be a force in the Magic Millions”.
Rachel King rides King Kirk, right, to victory in the Breeders Plate.Credit: Getty Images
With first place in that race carrying a cheque of $1.7 million and March’s Golden Slipper boasting a $2.8 million bounty for the winner, owners and trainers have many reasons to feel disconsolate.
The two-year-old was a $300,000 yearling purchase this year at the Magic Millions sales on the Gold Coast.
At his only start, King Kirk won the $250,000 group 3 Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 5, putting him at the top of betting markets for the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) - the premier race for two-year-olds - at Rosehill in March.
Clark, one of the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s go-to jockeys, said King Kirk showed in his first trial back that he was on track for more success as he prepared for January’s Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast.
Sydney training royalty Gai Waterhouse.Credit: Getty Images
“It was very distressing news to come through, and I feel for all the staff and connections, and everyone involved,” Clark said.
“I actually trialled him in the morning, and he felt like he was going really good and was going to be a force in the Magic Millions, but shocking news, and condolences to all involved.”