British Royal Ascot winner collapses and dies after finishing seventh in Breeders' Cup Turf

One of Britain’s big challengers at the Breeders’ Cup collapsed and died after running in the £3.6 million Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

Jayarebe, a winner at in June, was hotly fancied to give his trainer Brian Meehan a third victory in the 1m4f race.

The three-year-old ran with credit to cross the line in seventh place, five and a half lengths behind Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance, who was winning the race for the second time for trainer Charlie Appleby, under William Buick.

But Jayarebe collapsed on the track soon afterwards under jockey Sean Levey and, while he has immediately attended by on-course vets and moved into a horse ambulance, he did not survive.

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Breeders’ Cup vet Dr Al Ruggles said: “Jayarebe collapsed on the racecourse while being pulled up.

“The horse was unconscious at the time of being put on the van with what we call a slider. Unfortunately the horse has died and so we offer our condolences obviously to all connections and everyone.

“It’s suspected to be a cardiac event. They are unusual but they can occur. If in fact that’s it, post mortems don’t answer that question generally and they’re nearly impossible to predict in a horse that’s training well.”

The winner Rebel’s Romance repeated his victory from 2022 when the event was held at the same Del Mar racecourse.

Since then he has become a traveller and has won in , Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany in the last 12 months.

He was positioned towards the front of the field from his wide draw, kicking early in the straight to hold off the Japanese pair Rousham Park, by a neck, and Shahryar.

Buick said: “He’s an incredible horse. He’s such a joy to ride, a beautiful horse. He’s been excellently managed by Charlie and the team. He’s an international superstar.

“He had post 11, which was a little awkward, but we agreed to be positive. He had that kick from the turn and then he got the competition he went again.”

Appleby said: “I don’t need to tell William (Buick) how to ride this horse. He knows him inside-out. Throughout the race, I was pleased with where he was in his pitch and pleased to see to see him make the move that he did. He just keeps going and we had the momentum our way.

Most importantly, full credit to all the team, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. A horse like this, he’s a superstar, he really is. You watch him run around there and you really feel it. You want him to win.

“You see horses like him running around there and you really feel it because you want him to win. I’m just delighted for him and to win back to back Del Mar’s so we know he likes it here.

For the mileage he’s done and the competition that he’s been campaigning at, that level for the time he has it takes a lot of guts.”

“There are back-to-back Del Mars (Breeders’ Cups), so we know he likes it here.

“For the mileage he’s done and to be campaigned at that level for so long, it takes a special horse.”