Exciting sprinter Sunburnt Land has been killed after being struck by lightning overnight near Melbourne.Owner David Moodie said the freak incident happened on his farm at Romsey as severe storms swept across Victoria."It is unbelievable," Moodie said."A million to one chance."There are 120 horses and 180 head of cattle on the place and the lightning hits him."Moodie said it was obvious to the vet that lightning had struck the five-year-old Scenic gelding."He had burn marks on his wither and bur

Exciting sprinter Sunburnt Land has been killed after being struck by lightning overnight near Melbourne.

Owner David Moodie said the freak incident happened on his farm at Romsey as severe storms swept across Victoria.

"It is unbelievable," Moodie said.

"A million to one chance.

"There are 120 horses and 180 head of cattle on the place and the lightning hits him."

Moodie said it was obvious to the vet that lightning had struck the five-year-old Scenic gelding.

"He had burn marks on his wither and burn marks on his leg where it came out," Moodie said.

"It was a classic lightning strike."

Moodie said Sunburnt Land was in his normal spelling paddock at his farm after rounding out a successful spring carnival with a fast-finishing third to Swick and Turffontein in last Saturday's Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

His best win was the Group Two International Sprint (1100m) at Caulfield on October 18 after an impressive first-up win in Caulfield's Hussonet Cup (1200m) on September 20.

At his only other run in the spring he was desperately unlucky when third to Hot Danish and Fighting Fund in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day.

Trained by Mathew Ellerton at Flemington, Sunburnt Land won eight of his 18 starts and earned $379,000 in stakes.