A GUTTED horse trainer has lost his best horse and his yard in an extraordinary Royal Ascot 'fallout'.
Irish handler Barry Fitzgerald has sold 'wildly impressive' A Piece Of Heaven - touted as an Ascot 'banker' - to Syndicates Racing.
The horse, who is set to run in the Copper Horse Handicap at next week's Royal meeting before targeting the multi-million pound Melbourne Cup, is being touted as the next staying superstar.
But Fitzgerald said he had no option to sell up to Joseph O'Brien in a deal brokered by Jack Cantillon a week before the biggest Flat festival of the year.
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And in a devastating twist he has also lost his training yard after a 'fallout' with landlord Mark Foley, who part-owns the horse.
Fitzgerald told Thoroughbred Daily News: "I'm sorry I lost the horse in such circumstances but I wish Joseph O'Brien and Jack Cantillon the best of luck with him-they're not the bad guys here.
"His profile is ideal for Royal Ascot and my big plan for him was to go there and then go on to Melbourne with him.
"That's how good of a horse I think he is. He's a relentless galloper.
"It's a big blow because he's gone, the yard is gone, and I have to build back bigger and stronger again.
"It's a shame the way things worked out but these things happen in racing and we'll bounce back stronger from it."
Vauban followed the Copper Horse to Melbourne route last year, winning at Ascot before flopping in Australia when sent off favourite.
A Piece Of Heaven has won his past two races with ease, has over £30,000 earnings from seven races and is clearly destined for bigger and better things.
Cantillon said: "If he can continue on his upward trajectory, he's a horse with the profile and lack of miles on the clock to be a Melbourne Cup contender.
"He's currently rated 101 but I think a lot of very shrewd readers of form are very excited about this horse for Royal Ascot and have him down as one of their bankers in the Copper Horse.
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"A Piece Of Heaven has been sent to one of Ireland's greatest trainers and a brilliant man to travel a horse in Joseph O'Brien but I think Barry deserves huge credit by how well he has campaigned him thus far."
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