Haraka Heartbreak - Kasi Loses Her Life at Flemington

Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00

It was a day of mixed emotions for Lindsay Park's trainer Tony McEvoy at Flemington yesterday.

The Angaston based horseman was enjoying the thrills of the game when the top class galloper Fields of Omagh made a stunning return to win the Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) beating a top class field.

That win had erased a bit of the heartache after he lost one of the stable's promising youngsters Kasi Haraka two races earlier.

A half sister to former talented Group One performer Nina Haraka, the grey four-year-old mare was having her first run this preparation in the Ansis Dizgalvis Sprint (1000m).

Weakening badly to the finishing post the former sale topping filly appeared to have suffered a heart attack when she dropped dead just a couple of hundred metres after crossing the line in last position.

McEvoy said the loss of the promising mare was a great shame.

"She'd shown us plenty of ability back at home (Lindsay Park)," a dejected McEvoy said. "She didn't have the same amount of natural ability as Nina Haraka, but she was still going to win her share of races."

Kasi Haraka, who was raced by Ted Cockram and the Winners Circle Club No 3 Syndicate, was sold for a record yearling price at the 2000 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $230,000. She was knocked down to the late Peter Hayes after a bidding bonanza in the Morphettville auditorium.

PIC - Quentin Lang.