Balding team heartbroken as Beat The Bank loses life after Ascot win

There was tragedy at Ascot on Saturday when Beat The Bank sustained a fatal injury after gaining a brave victory in the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot.

Andrew Balding’s charge, owned by King Power Racing, showed great courage to win the Group Two for the second successive year.

The result looked unlikely a furlong out as Sir Michael Stoute’s Zaaki was still on the bridle while Silvestre de Sousa was hard at work.

As Zaaki looked set to extend his winning streak, Beat The Bank gamely found more for pressure and had his nose down where it mattered most.

However, it soon became apparent all was not well and De Sousa dismounted quickly with Beat The Bank eventually leaving the track in a horse ambulance.

It was later announced that the gelding had suffered injuries from which he could not be saved.

Balding tweeted: “Tragically Beat The Bank suffered a fatal injury after winning the Summer Mile for the second year running.

“He was such a brave horse and everyone at Kingsclere and King Power (Racing, owner) are heartbroken. We will remember him forever.”

Beat The Bank had been beaten a neck in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. He never quite won in Group One company but won nine of his ten races when not competing at the highest level.

He was one of the first horses purchased by the late King Power founder Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Leicester City owner-chairman who was among five people killed in a helicopter crash last year.

The five-year-old was also at the centre of a bizarre BHA inquiry after he ran at Ascot on Champions Day in 2017.

His connections had sprayed Holy Water on their horse for good luck before he ran in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

What should have been a day of celebration for King Power ended in heartache.

Their colours were also carried to success on Saturday in the John Smith’s Diamond Jubilee Cup at York with Pivoine, plus the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket with Mystery Power.