Natalie Rasmussen watched in horror as her dream of training her first thoroughbred winner ended in tragedy at Doomben.Rasmussen, the queen of harness racing, was in Sydney preparing her four-time InterDominion champion Blacks A Fake for the Miracle Mile and watched the live coverage of her second race starter Dual Code in Wednesday's Racetree Handicap (1350m).Dual Code, who was Rasmussen's first runner as a thoroughbred trainer when runner-up at Doomben two weeks ago, shattered his near-side sh

Natalie Rasmussen watched in horror as her dream of training her first thoroughbred winner ended in tragedy at Doomben.

Rasmussen, the queen of harness racing, was in Sydney preparing her four-time InterDominion champion Blacks A Fake for the Miracle Mile and watched the live coverage of her second race starter Dual Code in Wednesday's Racetree Handicap (1350m).

Dual Code, who was Rasmussen's first runner as a thoroughbred trainer when runner-up at Doomben two weeks ago, shattered his near-side shoulder at the 1000 metres and had to be destroyed.

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer struggled to keep Dual Code on his feet before eventually falling but the rider was able to walk back to the enclosure unaided and spoke with the five-year-old's part-owner Chris Garrard who witnessed the tragedy.

Garrard immediately contacted Rasmussen on her mobile after learning Dual Code's fate.

"I watched the race and I'm very upset," a distressed Rasmussen told AAP.

"But I'll be okay. I'm alright."

Garrard, a well-known harness racing identity, co-owned Dual Code with wealthy businessman and former harness driver Ron Wanless.

"He was a lovely horse and it's a shame to lose him this way," Garrard said.

"I'm glad the jockey is okay and he was doing a good job the way he was riding him."

The race was won by the Rob Heathcote-trained Jess Sar Belle who downed the favourite Streets Away by 2-1/2 lengths.

It was the second winner for Heathcote who earlier declared a bright future for promising three-year-old Excellantes following the gelding's four-length victory in the www.brc.com.au Handicap (1110m).

Excellantes is a half-brother to top sprinter Funtantes who Heathcote took to Sydney for the 2009 spring carnival where she was runner-up to Stryker in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill before a well-beaten fifth to Shellscrape in the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.

"It's early days but I'm starting to get a little bit excited about him," Heathcote said.

"His last 600 metres in 33 seconds was exceptional and it shows he's very talented.

"He broke the class record and Brad (Stewart) looked to be very kind on him."

Heathcote was forced to delay Excellantes race debut until Melbourne Cup day at Eagle Farm because of leg issues he suffered as a yearling.

"I think he's a decent animal and I'll run him in two weeks in town on a Saturday next start," he said.