Here De Rhythm pre-race

A $320,000 yearling sale purchase, who was moments away from kicking away his racetrack career, has been killed in a freak accident at Cheltenham.

Here de Rhythm, a colt by Dehere, suffered fatal injuries when he reared in the barrier stalls just moments before the starter was to release the runners in the Schweppes Handicap (1000m).

The David Hayes trained debutant, who was kept safe by bookmakers, was reported to have fractured its skull and collapsed to the base of the barriers.

Another of the fancied runners, the Phillip Stokes trained Blevola Miss, broke through the barriers.

She was eventually pulled up by rider Dom Tourneur and was passed fit to start in the race - which ran some 15 minutes late. She ran third.

Here De Rhythm

Here De Rhythm, a $320,000 purchase for James Bester at last year's Easter Yearling Sale, was a half brother to the Melbourne stakes winner Oamaru Rhythm - being from the Maribyrnong Plate winner Raise a Rhythm.

His rider Dean Yendall escaped injury in the nasty barrier incident.

PICS - Jenny Barnes.