Top mare Lady Of Camelot has been withdrawn from Royal Ascot (16-20 June) and all other fixtures as she has been stung by a stingray.
The home-bred Australian Group One winner was involved in a “freak incident” on the beach yesterday (12 May) and was taken to a specialist veterinary hospital.
The four-year-old mare, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, “remained under close observation” yesterday, a spokesperson for the mare’s owners Go Bloodstock said.
“While the immediate focus is on her recovery and wellbeing, the decision has been made to end her Brisbane Winter Carnival and international campaigns effective immediately,” the spokesperson added. “This is a deeply disappointing turn of events for the entire team.
“Lady Of Camelot is a horse of immense talent and heart. Our primary concern is her health and ensuring she receives the best possible care during this period.”
A decision about Lady Of Camelot’s future will be made “in due course”, the spokesperson added.
“Given her elite pedigree and Group 1 success, she remains a highly valuable prospect,” he said
It is understood that the wound is not of significant size but its location near a joint is a concern.
Lady Of Camelot, by Written Tycoon, has won nearly $6m (£3.2m) in six wins from 14 starts, including the Group One Golden Slipper Stakes two years ago.
The star sprinter was due to make her debut on a British racecourse next month as she was entered to run in one of of Royal Ascot’s Group One races; Tuesday’s 5f King Charles III Stakes or Saturday’s 6f Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
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