Jim Boyle hit by death of 2000 Guineas fourth Into The Sky

Into The Sky was fourth in the 2000 Guineas behind Bow Echo

Jim Boyle’s 2000 Guineas fourth Into The Sky has died after suffering what the trainer described as a “catastrophic injury” in the field.

The Starman colt caused an 80-1 shock on his debut at Newbury in August 2025 and then went close in the Mill Reef on his only other run at two.

He reappeared this year with a fine run in the Newmarket Classic and while he failed to win during his three-year-old season, hopes were rightly high for next year.

Boyle also revealed he had lost another of his string, Fletcher.

In a post on social media, Boyle said: “The last two weeks have been very tough for all of us here at Jim Boyle Racing, as sadly we have lost two lovely horses whilst on their winter holidays.

“Into The Sky was one of the very best horses we have ever trained, and gave us some memorable occasions that will live with us forever. After his superb fourth in the 2000 Guineas this year, things didn’t quite go according to plan, but we really felt that next year was going to be his year.

“Fletcher was a hugely popular homebred, who was only just beginning to realise his potential, winning for the first time in gutsy fashion this summer at Great Yarmouth.

“Both horses were greatly loved by all connections and will be sorely missed. Heartbreakingly, Into The Sky suffered a catastrophic injury in the field, whilst Fletcher succumbed to an illness which, despite the best of care at Liphook Equine Hospital, proved to be incurable.”