Chaos as $4 million horse loses mind and kicks out at handler
Chaos hit Royal Ascot when winning horse Lazzat almost drop-kicked a groundsworker in the head after getting loose and going mad on Sunday morning.
The Wathnan-owned sprinter just bagged more than $1 million for winning the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs. The Sun reports.
But when jockey James Doyle was about to be interviewed by ITV, the 9-2 winner appeared to get spooked by a cloth being raised in front of him.
Like a red rag to a bull, the fired-up four-year-old dumped Doyle to the turf, turned round and then galloped off down the track.
Reacting to the scary scenes live, ITV Racing pundit Jason Weaver shouted: 'The sheet! Oh no, he's had a howler with the sheet!'
While host Ed Chamberlin said: 'Lazzat won but that's a dramatic aftermath (the likes of which) I've never seen before at Royal Ascot.'
Groundsworkers tried their best to calm the horse as he hit top stride at the Berkshire track.
But it came inches from turning incredibly nasty indeed when Lazzat, who was cornered by three men, lashed out with his hind legs at one of them.
He just missed his head but the man fell through the running rail like a drunk boxer through the ropes.
ITV cameras showed Lazzat jogging merrily around on his own, a long, long way from the finish post he had just passed.
There was then further drama in the immediate aftermath as rumours swirled that Doyle could be disqualified because he only had ten minutes to weigh in and make the victory official.
Doyle needed his saddle but the problem was that Lazzat was still half-way down the track.
It meant Lazzat, a notoriously tricky customer who had just been bought for enormous money by the Emir of Qatar, even kept King Charles waiting.
The monarch was there to present the winning trophy to connections.
Fortunately, Lazzat was eventually brought under control, Doyle was driven down to collect his saddle and then rushed back in a motor.
It meant the next race was delayed for several minutes and eventually went off six minutes late.
Lazzat, who was still very much on his toes in the winner's enclosure, was unhurt by his escapades - and was given a good cooling down after.
Lazzat has won more than $4 million in prize money and last year finished second in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney.
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