Crazy racehorse runs into shark-infested waters as blokes strip down to their boxers to rescue her

THIS is the moment a crazy racehorse ran into shark-infested waters after escaping the track – forcing the starter to chase after her in his boxers.

Princess Lunar crashed through a fence and trotted into a canal at the Gold Coast racing in Australia last weekend.

The horse bolted from the track and bounded down to the canal – which can be home to a number of sharks in the summer months

The starter and a number of other track workers stripped down to their boxers to wade in and rescue her

The bonkers action was all caught on camera – and thankfully no one was injured

The incredible scenes were captured on camera and showed poor Kenny Watson wading through the water to rescue her.

Princess Lunar, a four-year-old mare, was due to compete in the Pierata First Yearlings Quality Handicap under jockey Tegan Harrison.

But she broke loose on the way down to the start, bounded over a grassy bank before going for a swim in the Nerang River and finally settling in the canal.

The horse’s trainer Scott Morrisey looked on in disbelief as the jaw-dropping scenes unfolded.

And he was just thankful the horse and Watson returned in one piece given he said: “There are a lot of sharks in there.

“In the summer months they catch quite a lot and some of them are quite big.”

For his part, Watson quickly became a hero for jumping into the water to help the horse – a matter made even scarier by the fact he’s a rubbish swimmer.

Explaining what happened, he said: “We were on the way to the start when horse got loose – and by the time I got to her she was already in the canal.

“The canal led to a big opening to a lake, so I had to get to her straight away.

“The adrenaline was really going, we were worried about what could happen.

“We just did what we could off the cuff and fortunately it was the right thing. The horse wasn’t injured.

“I got a few minor cuts but more worrying was the fact I’m a terrible swimmer!

“There was an element of ‘what am I going to do if the water goes over my head?’

“The video went viral. I got messages from people I haven’t spoken to in years giving me stick about the underpants.”

Morrisey posted a photo of Princess Lunar eating up at home, totally unharmed from her bonkers escapade.

And recalling how it all came about, he said: “Just as we were about to get out on the track she erupted. She just launched in the air, and I mean launched.

“She got all four feet off the ground and got pretty high, then sucked back, landed sideways and got rid of Tegan.

“When Princess Lunar hit the ground, she landed in a gallop. She just galloped straight out of my hands.

“I couldn’t hold on to her. There was no chance. The lead just burned straight out of my hands, and she was gone in a split second.

“When the horse took off, I just ran over the Tegan to make sure she was all right.

“Tegan said, ‘I’m alright, I’m alright.’ She was more worried about the horse than herself.

‘DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID’

“So, we walked up the track to see what was happening, to find out what was going on.

“She had gone through the fence near the top of the home straight. When we got up there and I saw the aluminium fence all buckled and in pieces, I just looked at Tegan thinking Princess Lunar must have sustained a serious injury.

“I was thinking you don’t go through these sort of fences like that without major injuries.

“We got out there and, at first, nobody could really see her. The barrier boys and track staff were already there looking to help, and then I heard on the two-way that she was up in the canal.

“She had gone under the bridge and into the canal past that.

“I went around and the boys were there and stripping off. I just said, ‘look, go after her and get her but please be careful. Don’t do anything stupid’.

“The horse was exhausted by then and they got to her. They did a great job getting her up to the other end because the water was about shoulder height for a horse.

“They did a fantastic job getting her out. All credit goes to them.”

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