Kia Joorabchian's £2 million horse pulled out of big race after 'freak accident' at Newmarket

Kia Joorabchian’s £2 million racehorse had to be pulled out of a big race on Thursday after getting injured in a 'freak accident' during the preliminaries.

Ghostwriter became the football agent’s latest big buy for his Amo Racing outfit after changing hands for £2 million at auction on the eve of Royal Ascot, with Joorabchian saying, “To be honest, my son picked this horse out a little while ago and he said ‘We’ve got to buy this!’.” He raced for the first time for new connections in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished third behind Rebel’s Romance.

Ghostwriter was due to have his next start in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes on the first day of the Newmarket July Festival on Thursday, for which he was the 4-5 favourite. However he became upset during the build-up to the 1m4f race, rearing up in the pre-parade ring and was withdrawn on vet’s advice.

Trainer Clive Cox said: “I’m sorry to say he’s sore. It was just a freak accident. I was putting the saddle on when he reared over backwards and sat down.”

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He added: “He’s clearly very lame so we are not going to be taking part in a race on the back of that. I’m really sorry for everyone, first of all the horse and the owner.. As long as he’s alright, that’s our priority at the moment. He was limping after the situation so we need to take care of him.”

In the absence of Ghostwriter, the Group 2 race was won by Godolphin’s El Cordobes who delivered jockey William Buick’s 2,000 winner in Britain.

Buick became the seventh active rider to reach the milestone, joining Frankie Dettori, Joe Fanning, Jamie Spencer, Luke Morris and Jim Crowley.

Buick said: "I haven't been counting down but when I was told it was single figures to go I've taken notice.

"I'm very proud, it's thanks to a lot of people. Thanks to my family first and foremost, you can't do it without them. And thanks to all the trainers, owners and stable staff, everyone who's helped me over the years.

"Look it's a great achievement, it's been hanging over me for a while so to do it in the Princess Of Wales at the July meeting for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin means the world.

"It's nice to do it at Newmarket rather than Wolverhampton, but I don't mean any offence to Wolverhampton!"