It may have been an unfortunate (admittedly traumatic) accident, but nevertheless, when litigation attaches itself to a famous name (in this case trainer Gai Waterhouse who, along with the AJC, is being sued for negligence after Waterhouse's [then] 18-year-old strapper Melissa Dennett failed to control a horse that broke away from her and went on to cause a resultant collision between a car and its occupants) the media will always follow.

Reported yesterday in Breeding & Racing (Australia)'s Daily News:

Sydney woman Natalie Petrovic & her mother Ruzica Petrovic are suing leading trainer Gai Waterhouse & the Australian Jockey Club for negligence following an accident when a runaway horse collided violently with their car on Alison Road outside Randwick Racecourse in 2001, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. The NSW Supreme court heard yesterday how the horse (trained by Waterhouse) was startled by a car inside the racecourse, fled from its handler, caused a stampede involving 5 other horses, with 4 then bolting through the track’s gate & out onto the adjacent roadway, where Waterhouse’s horse crashed into the Petrovic’s car, landing on top of the roof & bonnet & “crushing the roof & trapping the women inside”. The panic-stricken horse’s legs then smashed through the windscreen, repeatedly kicking both the terrified women. The horse was later euthanased. Natalie told the court she has subsequently suffered headaches, as well as shoulder, neck & back pain, plus depression, post traumatic stress, anxiety & “has been suicidal”.

The horse, a gelding by Zeditave ex Outing (by Boucher (USA)) was known as Honour and Strength. He had won at his only start prior to his death - a 2yo Handicap at Kembla Grange.

Julian Sexton SC is acting for Gai Waterhouse Racing and co-defendant the Australian Jockey Club. Peter Semmler, QC, is representing the Petrovics.

To give you some idea how the media can blow these things out of all proportion, take a look at the emotive language adopted in today's Daily Telegraph:

"As a gregarious 18-year-old, Natalie Petrovic was on the way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a primary school teacher. Then the "unimaginable" happened – her car was trampled by a race horse trained by racing identity Gai Waterhouse while she and her mother Ruzica were inside."

The media have a lot to answer for at times...