Leading horse trainer Paul Nicholls has led heartfelt tributes following the tragic death of the rising star Kalif Du Berlais, a horse part-owned by football legend Sir Alex Ferguson. The six-year-old suffered a fatal injury during a race at Kempton Park on Saturday, 10 January 2026.
A Tragic End to a Promising Career
Kalif Du Berlais was the favourite for the Grade Two Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase and was travelling strongly at the head of the field. The incident occurred at the ninth fence of the 16-fence contest when the gelding made a jumping error, unseating jockey Harry Cobden. The horse sustained a serious shoulder injury in the fall.
Despite the immediate attention of on-course veterinary teams, the damage was too severe, and the decision was taken to euthanise the talented chaser. The loss represents a devastating blow to all connected with the horse, who had shown immense potential.
Nicholls and Connections Heartbroken
Trainer Paul Nicholls, a 14-time champion handler, expressed his profound sadness. He described Kalif Du Berlais as a "big, bold horse that attacked his fences" and said he had been "enthusiastic today and travelling beautifully" before the fateful mistake.
"It is a big kick in the teeth for everybody, the owners, and the poor girl that looks after him," Nicholls stated via Sporting Life. "Harry was extremely upset. We'll never know where he would have ended up, but we had a lot of faith in him."
The horse raced in the famous colours of Sir Alex Ferguson, who co-owned the thoroughbred with friends including Ged Mason. Ferguson was present at Aintree in April to see Kalif Du Berlais claim his biggest victory in the Grade One Maghull Novices' Chase, earning a first prize of just over £67,000. In total, the horse won nearly £200,000 in prize money across ten races.
Racing Community Mourns a Double Loss
The sadness was compounded by the loss of another horse, Wertpol, on the same racecard. A spokesperson for ITV Racing, which was broadcasting from the Sunbury-on-Thames track, confirmed both deaths.
"In both instances, the horses were immediately attended to by expert veterinary teams after sustaining injuries during their respective races but sadly could not be saved," they said. "Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with their connections during this difficult time."
Nicholls concluded with a sombre reflection on the inherent risks of the sport, noting: "These horses get the best of everything and it is sad when things like this happen." The racing world is now left to mourn a star whose bright future was tragically cut short.
