The Bettor's Delight 4yr-old was just four days from returning to the public eye, at the trials this coming Wednesday, when he collapsed during light training at trainer Cran Dalgety's stable.
"He was just jogging around the track yesterday morning, gave out a bit of a wince, rolled over and down he went," Kubala said.
"They did an autopsy and discovered that his aorta had given out on him and burst.
"It's just devastating."
Pat's Delight announced himself as a racetrack star with a brilliant nose second to Sheriff in the epic New Zealand Derby of 2018 before going on to win at the Harness Jewels.
Last season he was thrown straight into the big leagues and after a series of good runs in New Zealand, tackled the Interdominion series in Victoria.
There he confirmed his status as an open-class star with a win and two seconds in the heats, before starting third favourite in the final.
He managed a close-up fifth behind Tiger Tara there before taking out the Shepparton Cup at his next start.
For Kubala, the Interdominion heat win at Ballarat, where he won under a hold less than half a second outside the track record, was his highlight.
"He just jogged it that night and Gavin Lang, who drove him, said he'd never won an Interdominion Pacing final and this horse could be the one to do it for him.
"To hear a driver of his experience say that was a real thrill."
After the Shepparton Cup win, and a small brush with colitis, Kubala and Dalgety made the decision to bypass the 4yr-old features at Auckland, and the Addington Jewels, in favour of the upcoming season.
"We brought him home and gave him a good long spell thinking we would have a crack at this year's New Zealand Cup and Interdominions [in Auckland]," Kubala said.
"And everything was great; he had just grown up the way they wanted.
"We were about to start on his new campaign and Cran was very upbeat."
Pat's Delight's demise was the second heartbreaking loss in less than a month for Kubala.
Pat's Delight's 3yr-old full brother died from an infection recently.
Kubala still has a 2yr-old filly who is a full brother to Pat's Delight.
Their dam, Righteous Franco, is due to foal another sibling in the spring.
- Garrick Knight
