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Trainer Colin Hayes feels Dulcify's hind leg as jockey Brent Thomson tries to keep the gelding from moving after he broke down during the Melbourne Cup. The horse was later found to have broken his pelvis and was destroyed. Hyperno, on the outside, gets his nose in front of Salamander to win the 1979 Melbourne Cup. Help
Trainer Colin Hayes feels Dulcify's hind leg as jockey Brent Thomson tries to keep the gelding from moving
after he broke down during the Melbourne Cup. The horse was later found to have broken his pelvis and was
destroyed.
From JOHN HOURIGAN in Melbourne
The champion weight-for-
age galloper, Dulcify, was de-
stroyed at 5.45pm after three
veterinary surgeons had de-
liberated for three hours in
the hope of saving him.
Dulcify, who scored a sensa-
tional win in Australia's richest
wfa race, the W. S. Cox Plate 10
days ago and showed great heart
by beating the New Zealand
champion Shivaree in the
Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday,
broke his pelvis during the run-
ning of yesterday's Melbourne
Cup for which he was the 3-1
favourite.
As the field thundered past the
post Brent Thomson was dis-
mounting from Dulcify at the top
of the straight.
The ominous green screens ap-
peared and it was thought that
Dulcify would be destroyed on
the spot.
But after pleas from trainer
Colin Hayes, the horse was taken
to his stables for a thorough ex-
amination.
Obviously in pain, the horse
had to be carried in a sling into
the ambulance and even then it
was thought there was no hope.
Thomson said that Dulcify was
galloped on at the 1,600 mark
and went down behind.
"He seemed to stretch out
again all right but then went
down again at the 600m and I
knew he was hurt badly", Thom-
son said.
The horse had been stripped
down the offhind leg but obvious-
ly had more serious internal in-
juries. The veterinary steward,
John Bourkc, said that it was
difficult to diagnose the extent of
the pelvis injury until a full rectal
examination could be carried out.
This was done at Hayes stable
by the club veterinary officer
Geoff Hazard.
Hayes' own veterinary
surgeon, Campbell Baker, also
was called in for his opinion
before the horse was destroyed.
Bourke said the fracture was in
the centre of the pelvis and,
although the horse could stand he
would get tired, lie down and tear
it apart causing considerable
pain.
Thomson was terribly upset
and went straight to the jockeys
room declining interviews im-
mediately after the race.
Hayes also declined interviews
until more than an hour after the
race and then said, "My God, it
is a tragedy. He is the horse that
has given me my greatest thrill
and now my greatest sadness".
Hayes has had the tremendous
misfortune with his star per-
formers, So Called having broken
down last season after a suc-
cession of great wins.
Dulcify started 21 times for 10
wins and prizemoney of
$568,775.
A steward's report issued late
last night relating to the Cup
stated, "Near the 1,600m Hyper-
no, who was pulling and racing
tight between Cubacade and
Warri Symbol, galloped on
Dulcify who was pulled down
behind. After entering the
straight Dulcify had to be pulled
up".
$