Karl Burke hit hard by death of brilliant mare Fallen Angel
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 4 Oct 2026
Karl Burke spoke of the “unbelievable memories” he has of Fallen Angel following the fatal injury to the multiple Group One heroine at ParisLongchamp on Saturday.
Running in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein, the Wathnan Racing-owned five-year-old was still in contention when she went wrong around two furlongs from home. She was pulled up sharply by James Doyle, but her injuries were such that she could not be saved.
A Group One winner at two, three – including the Irish 1,000 Guineas – and four, she will leave a big hole at Burke’s Spigot Lodge yard in North Yorkshire.
“That was horrible what happened yesterday, no horse deserves that and one as good as her certainly doesn’t,” Burke told the Press Association on Sunday. “She had given us some unbelievable memories over the last three years, winning five Group Ones.
“We’ve won a Group One today (Miss Yechance) and that incredibly is the swings and roundabouts of racing, but it is very hard to get used to it, you never really do.
“It’s very tough on everyone at the yard and she’ll be very hard to replace.”
Ralph Beckett’s Spirit Tango also sadly suffered a fatal injury in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday.
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