Wild moment top horse goes on uncontrollable run after throwing off its superstar jockey just days before one of Australia’s biggest races

Via Sistina is considered a real Cox Plate opportunity this weekend – but hearts were in our mouths on Tuesday after the mare unseated superstar jockey James McDonald and briefly galloped around the famous Mooney Valley circuit without a rider.

The dramatic incident happened just after 6.30am during track work, with both the horse and hoop remaining remarkably unharmed.

Decorated trainer Chris Waller will wait until Saturday morning before making a final decision on whether the seven-year-old will clear the barriers for the time-honored Group 1 race over 2040 meters – but was relieved that things appeared to go well after that as the keeper became the keeper assessed by a veterinarian.

Waller initially feared the worst after Via Sistina took her around the iconic circuit minus McDonald, who was left with a ‘little bit of sore shoulder’ after falling on the grass.

‘A bandage has come loose. “She was standing on the bandages and some piece of equipment was broken and she tripped and that piece of equipment got stuck in her hind legs and that scared her,” Waller said. The era.

‘She ran on fear for a few laps and luckily there was a race director who picked up the horse and sat back down.

‘Not a hair is missing. There is no blood, no skin was taken from her.

“We had our vet look at her and we had a vet from Racing Victoria look at her thoroughly… I can’t believe it.”

The dramatic incident took place just after 6.30am, with both horse and hoop remaining remarkably unharmed (photo: a riderless Via Sistina)

Trainer and TV presenter Amy Yargi tries to stop Via Sistina after James McDonald was sacked at Mooney Valley on Tuesday

Superstar jockey James McDonald was left with a ‘little bit of sore shoulder’ after the incident (pictured, before the fall) – he still hopes to ride the mare in the Cox Plate

It comes after jockey Jason Collett was praised for his courage and compassion after his horse collapsed mid-race at Sydney’s Royal Randwick last weekend.

Collett, 33, also lifted the lid on what first crossed his mind after the shocking fall, with the hoop immediately coming to the rescue for Think About It after spotting the six-year-old gelding in some distress.

“I turned to the horse and was afraid he had done something to his leg, so I went to hold him,” he said.

‘If a horse tries to run around on three legs, that’s not good at all.

‘As I got closer, blood was pouring from his nose. I knew there had been bleeding, so I ran to his head and held him.

‘I didn’t think he’d be gone for long. ‘Horses usually don’t survive that. I’m glad he did.’

Trainer Joe Pride paid tribute to Collett after the race, praising him for his quick thinking.

“It’s all instinctive stuff when you get pelted like that – your natural instinct is what it would be if you were in an accident, which is to check the person next to you,” he said when speaking about Collett’s actions.

‘Jason has been around horses all his life. He wanted to comfort him.

‘On Monday the vet looked at the horse again, the heart is good. Saturday was a pretty traumatic day for him, but he [Think About It] doesn’t seem to be too bothered by it.’