After beginning 2024 full of expectations for D'Jumbuck and Pink Beau Ty, emerging trainer Brian McGrath is still coming to terms with the devastating loss of both highly promising sprinters.
The first blow came early in the year when 2023 VOBIS Gold Dash winner D'Jumbuck succumbed to a throat infection.
The Pakenham-based trainer had just started to come to terms with that loss when his heir apparent as the stable's banner horse, Pink Beau Ty, suffered a fatal colic attack in April.
"It's been a tough year. The staff at home were understandably really down, as was I," McGrath said.
"Then there's great stable supporters in Pink Beau Ty such as John O'Rourke, who raced and bred him with my father and he was very disappointed."
Over summer, Pink Beau Ty won city races on Cranbourne Cup Day and also at Moonee Valley, while he also finished second at Caulfield and in his final appearance, he finished an unlucky sixth at the same track behind Rey Magnerio.
"Pink Beau Ty was shaping as a nice sprinter and had a great preparation progressing from winning a maiden at Donald last September to two city wins. I think he was only going to get better with age," he said.
"It's like losing your top two draft picks but you've got no choice in this game other than to dust yourself off and get back on with it."
D'Jumbuck and Pink Beau Ty had helped attract more owners to the stable, but he can't help but occasionally think that they still had a lot left to achieve on the racetrack.
"It's been a tough time no question. I suppose the only upside is that I've got a half-brother to Pink Beau Ty, by Akeed Mofeed, and a younger half-sister by Blue Point, plus a half-brother to D'Jumbuck by Earthlight," he said.
"I've picked up some horses and new owners. I've mainly got younger horses, so when you've got them there's always a degree of expectation. I've got 20 in work, which is a good number and have picked up some new older horses."
McGrath's other city winner this season, Cantina, will also return to work later this year.