Delicacy has been ruled out of the 2016 Autumn Racing Carnival and may not race again after pulling up sore following her outstanding victory in the 2016 Perth Cup on Saturday.
Delicacy may never race again after pulling up sore following her memorable win in the 2016 Perth Cup. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Delicacy lumped 59 kilograms to victory in the Perth Cup and there was discussion that she would head to Melbourne for a tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12, but owner Bob Peters informed the media this afternoon that his star galloper had pulled up extremely poorly and had been sent for x-rays.
Peters said that he did not know what the exact issue was, but he is unsure whether Delicacy would ever be able to race again.
“She’s pulled up sore in the front legs,” Peters told Racing.com.
“We don’t know.
“We have to get the results – she won’t be scanned and X-rayed until tomorrow.
“She’s absolutely out of the autumn and it maybe even means retirement.”
Delicacy made her racing debut with a victory over 1000 metres at Belmont Park in June of 2014 and she made it three straight wins on the trot before she was beaten by Ideal Image in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) in November.
She recorded her maiden win at Group level when she took out the Group 3 Western Australian Champion Stakes (1600m) during the 2014 Perth Summer Racing Carnival and she was beaten in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m), but in February she took out the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) and went on to take out the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m), Group 3 Western Australian Oaks (2400m) and Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m).
After taking all before her in Perth she was sent to Adelaide for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) and she stamped herself as the real deal with a comfortable victory before she beat the boys a week later in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).
Peters resisted the temptation to set Delicacy for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and she was instead saved for a Perth Summer Campaign, which started with unlucky efforts in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
Delicacy was narrowly beaten by Perfect Reflection in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 5, but she returned to winning form in the Group 2 Cox Stakes (2100m) on December 19 before her outstanding Perth Cup victory.
