Lady of Camelot has had her racing future thrown into serious doubt following a stingray attack on a Brisbane beach.
The injury is bizarre, but not unheard of, given trainers often use beach workouts in the training and recovery programs for their horses.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare was preparing for the Doomben 10,000 when the incident occurred.
The stable then reported the injury to Racing Queensland stewards, with a decision later taken to remove her from the race.
Lady of Camelot has also been withdrawn from Royal Ascot in the UK next month, with serious uncertainty as to when or even if, she will return to racing.
Sir Owen Glenn, owner of the mare announced on Instagram that she would be removed from all upcoming races.
Lady Camelot has had her racing future thrown up in the air following a stingray attack at a Brisbane beach
‘She has been transported to a specialist veterinary hospital where she remains under close observation,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘While the immediate focus is on her recovery and well-being, the decision has been made to end her Brisbane Winter Carnival and international campaigns effective immediately.
‘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 regarding her future will be made in due course. Given her elite pedigree and Group 1 success, she remains a highly valuable prospect.’
Lady of Camelot is the homebred daughter of Written Tycoon, and has won $5.95 million from just 14 starts.
Among those results is two wins as well as five Group ! places and a fifth placed finish in the Grouo 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.
A stingray attack on a horse occurred as recently as just a year ago, when Plenty of Ammo was stung while swimming in Lady Bay, Warrnambool.
That injury delyaed the mare’s return to racing, though she would eventually make a full recovery.
In 2016 Too Good to Refuse was stung at the same beach as Lady of Camelot.
The mare was still able to race that week in the Hobartvilee Stakes, finishing second to last.
That would be the end of her Autumn races though, as she missed the rest of the Syndey carnival.
