Shalapour dies after gallop

LAST year’s Irish Derby third Shalapour collapsed and died after a routine canter on Mark Johnston’s gallops yesterday.

The four-year-old colt, bred by the Aga Khan, was bought by Markus Graff out of John Oxx’s stable in December and made his first appearance for the Middleham trainer just two weeks ago when runner-up at Southwell.

“He just walked off the gallops and keeled over. We haven’t had the result of the post mortem yet but it was most likely a heart problem or a ruptured aorta,” said Johnston.