This is the incredible moment a quick-thinking jockey jumped in to help his horse after it collapsed mid-race in Australia.
Champion horse Think About It suffered catastrophic internal bleeding during the Sydney Stakes race on Saturday.
Jockey Jason Collett was thrown from the sprinter but quickly got to his feet to provide comfort to the distressed horse as he waved his paws in the air.
Collett is seen running to hold the horse’s head as the rest of the herd races towards the finish line.
Think About It, winner of last year’s Everest race, made a “miraculous” recovery after “cheating death”, although trainer Joseph Pride confirmed the horse would be retired.
Collett was thrown from his horse mid-race, but ran back to tend to the flailing animal.
Thank About It had suffered a hemorrhage attack, but ended up recovering ‘miraculously’
Pride said he was worried the injury could have been the end for the racehorse after he fell during the Sydney Stakes on October 19.
A screen was put up to block the harrowing scene from view of the crowd, which is often a sure sign that the horse is about to be euthanized.
“I’ve seen horses fall like this before and, unfortunately, they don’t get back up,” Pride said. The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Once they put up that screen, they won’t come out.”
Surprisingly, the horse’s head rose again, and Think About It had been helped to its feet.
‘I saw his head appear above the screen. It was amazing. I just thought, ‘Aahh, what a relief,’ Pride added.
The horse was then taken from the track to his stall, where a veterinary evaluation revealed the severity of the heart problem.
The owners and trainer made the immediate decision to retire the horse from racing, saying it was an “easy decision” as it was a “major bleed.”
“I don’t believe in any higher power but honestly, something happened there,” Pride said.
‘I don’t know what happened. There is a scientific explanation there, but it is beyond me. He shouldn’t have gotten up.
Shortly afterwards they reported that the horse was “bright and happy”, having miraculously recovered from the horrific fall.
“I’m very happy to see him this morning. I can’t even believe that he doesn’t even seem to be in pain from the fall. He turned around and was doing about 60 km/h.
Think About It, sired by two-time Cox Plate champion So You Think, was clearly distraught and Collett said his first instinct was to try to get him back on his feet.
“I’m fine and surprisingly the horse has returned to the stables,” Collett said.
‘They don’t do that. I thought he had collapsed but he bled to death.
Collett’s bravery was praised by racing fans.
“Graphic images (but) I love hearing Think About It will live life like a king from now on in retirement,” racing analyst John Wall posted on Twitter/X after the incident.
“But I have great respect for Jason Collett in an incredibly dangerous situation, trying to comfort the horse without hesitation.”
Jockey Jason Collett has been praised for his bravery after his mount crashed into the grass in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick last Saturday.
“It’s very disturbing to see the animal in these situations. Kudos to Jason for not leaving his post at this distressing time,” one fan posted on social media.
‘This shows how much love there is for these animals. Anyone who has ever handled a horse knows that what Jason did was selfless. He risked comforting the horse. Legend,” praised another follower.
Think About It won 11 of 19 starts, and even claimed the 2023 Everest.
The horse, a son of the legendary So You Think, retires with $12,163,050 (around £6,250,000) in career prize money.
One owner wrote on X: “At least there’s something poetic about cheating death 12 months after your Everest triumph.”
