THIS is the absolutely brutal moment poor jockey Brendal Powell is sent crashing through the railing with the race at his mercy.
The jockey looked a certainty to land his first winner at Worcester in four years as he approached the post miles in front of his nearest two challengers.
But he and runaway 7-1 leader Shoal Bay suffered disaster just yards from the line when the jockey was dumped to the ground.
Shocked punters watched on in horror – or delight if you backed eventual winner Quartz Du Rheu – as Powell slowly but surely slipped off his horse in the 2m7f contest.
Once the saddle goes there is little you can do and Powell was sent hurtling to the turf, bashing through the plastic running rail in the process.
That meant the 11-8 favourite coasted home by just over a length under winning jockey Kevin Brogan.
Ecstasy for Brogan but agony for Powell, who was chasing his first win at the track for four years.
Describing the action, stunned Sky Sports Racing presenter Luke Harvey said: “Heartache for Brendan Powell, he was certain to win.
“The tack had slipped right the way back.”
A devastated Powell said afterwards: “I had the race in the bag and the girth had obviously slipped back so far that when the saddle moved it slipped right round from underneath me.
“The first thing I thought was because the saddle had gone round so quickly that my leather had snapped.
“I could feel the saddle move back a little bit going to the last fence, but with the breast plate I thought it would be all right where it was.
‘HOLLOW VICTORY’
“He jumped from fence to fence and galloped them into the ground. It’s very frustrating, but no-one has died. Unfortunately these things happen.”
Brogan said his victory was ‘hollow’ and that no jockey wants to win in those circumstances.
He said: “I wouldn’t say I’d have caught them both in front, but thankfully they’re both OK.
“Brendan was on the ground before I saw it happen – it was a hollow victory.
“That’s the way the game goes sometimes, you’re either in luck or you’re out and unfortunately it was for Brendan.”
Punters were equally stunned by what unfolded.
One commented: “Next time we see Shoal Bay is on a Question of Sport!”
Another said: “If you backed Shoal Bay in the 5.00 at Worcester and missed the race, my advice to you is don’t watch the replay.”
While a fellow Twitter user posted: “Shoal Bay in the 5.00 at Worcester just ruined my day.”
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