Outstanding Western Australian mare Delicacy has been retired and will not race again.
Scans revealed the daughter of Al Maher had severely torn both tendons in her front legs.
Delicacy had pulled up sore following her Perth Cup triumph, but owner-breeder Bob Peters’ worst fears were realised today.
It’s the second cruel blow in 12-months for Peters and trainer Grant Williams after Elite Belle died on a flight to Melbourne last year.
Delicacy was crowned Australian champion three-year-old filly and WA Horse of the Year after a stunning 2014-15 season.
She claimed the WA Oaks and WA Derby before venturing east and notching a Group 1 double: the Australasian Oaks and South Australian Derby in Adelaide.
Delicacy ends her glittering career on a spectacular high after a history making win in last Saturday’s iconic Perth Cup at Ascot.
She lumped 59kg when brilliantly defeating stable mate Neverland and Real Love, a weight carrying record for a winning mare.
Delicacy, who debuted at Belmont in 2014, raced on 19 occasions for 12 wins, two seconds and three third placings for prizemoney of $2,048,620.
Delicacy also won the Group 2 Cox Stakes (2100m), Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m), the Listed Natasha Stakes (1800m) and Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m).