Rajik (blue cap): sustained a pastern injury during the Sagaro Stakes

  PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) 

RAJIK, the winner of six races including two Listed events, has had to be put down after suffering a serious leg injury in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday.

Speaking on Thursday morning, the six-year-old’s trainer Charlie Swan said: “We are all devastated. Rajik was such a tough horse and a very good one, too. He improved a lot last season and we were so looking forward to running him in the good staying races this year.

“Sadly, he split his off-fore [front right] pastern very badly. It went into the joint at the top and the bottom end and the vet advised us that his racing days were over and that he was going tobe in a lot of pain. So on humane grounds he had to be put down.”

Rajik, who was pulled up a mile and a quarter from the finish of Wednesday’srace, showed much improved form last year when he won the Listed Ballycullen Stakes at the Curragh and the Listed Oyster Stakes at Galway.

Owned by the Rathcoffey Racing Syndicate, the son of Kalanisi put up the best performance of his career when finishing fourth behind Sans Frontieres in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh in September.

Prior to achieving his two wins at Listed level, he won four handicaps including the Guinness Premier Handicap at last year’s Galway festival.