Craig Kerry
The racing future of 2024 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot is in doubt after she was injured in a freak stingray attack on a Brisbane beach.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained four-year-old mare was preparing for this Saturday’s group 1 Doomben 10,000 when she was stung on the leg on Tuesday morning.
The stable reported the wound to Racing Queensland stewards before the decision was made to scratch her from the race and withdraw her from a potential trip to the UK’s famed Royal Ascot carnival next month.
Owner Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock Australia made the announcement on Instagram, saying Lady Of Camelot would be withdrawn from all upcoming racing engagements.
“She has been transported to a specialist veterinary hospital where she remains under close observation,” the statement read.
“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.”
A stingray attack on a racehorse is rare but not unique, given trainers often incorporate beach work into their training and recovering programs.
Too Good To Refuse was stung at the same beach, Nudgee, in 2016 but was able to race that week in the Hobartville Stakes, where it finished second last, before missing the rest of the Sydney autumn carnival.
In March last year, Plenty Of Ammo was stung on the leg while swimming in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, and the injury delayed her return to racing.
Lady Of Camelot, a homebred daughter of Written Tycoon, has won $5.95 million from 14 starts, which include two wins but also five group 1 placings. She was fifth in the group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 2 after a year-long spell and needed to impress in the Doomben 10,000 to warrant a Royal Ascot trip.
Lady Of Camelot’s scratching gave Peter Snowden-trained Beadman, which won the Gold Coast Guineas last Saturday, a spot in the race. Another Randwick trainer, Tom Charlton, needs one more scratching to get his exciting three-year-old, Napoleonic, into the Doomben 10,000.
Also on Tuesday, it was confirmed Chris Waller-trained Generosity would not compete at Royal Ascot.
The group 2 Challenge Stakes winner, which is spelling, was sixth last start in the group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
Riccardo Surace jnr, from Sydney-based owners B2B Thoroughbreds, confirmed the five-year-old mare would not race at Royal Ascot.
Waller-trained group 1-winning mare Joliestar and Bjorn Baker-prepared Overpass are set to make the trip.
