Promising three-year-old Delago’s Lad has dropped dead following a track gallop at Mornington on Tuesday.
The John McArdle-trained Delago Brom gelding had just worked on his home track and was pulling up when he collapsed.
It is believed he suffered a heart attack.
McArdle’s wife Bernadette, who rode Delago’s Lad in the workout, was not injured.
Delago’s Lad had been nominated for Saturday’s $1 million Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill and the $1 million Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8.
The gallop was to determine whether Delago’s Lad made the trip to Sydney for the Golden Rose.
He had also been entered for Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Hcp (1500m) at Moonee Valley.
The death follows that of another Mornington-based galloper, BMW winner Cedarberg, who dropped dead after a gallop at Moonee Valley on August 16.
Delago’s Lad won one race at Sandown as a two-year-old from seven career starts and was sixth to Sepoy in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.
He had raced twice as a three-year-old, finishing fourth to Sepoy in the Vain Stakes and fourth to Golden Archer in the McNeil Stakes, both at Caulfield.
AAP TURF
