One shock after another.....
http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/sp...cing/?id=34224
Divine Madonna retired after injury 1 Apr 2008
Kavanagh Racing
Australia’s leading miler Divine Madonna will be retired after sustaining an injury in the past 24 hours.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh on Tuesday morning confirmed the injury and said the daughter of Hurricane Sky would be immediately retired after a stunning race career.
“We discovered she’d pulled muscles across her back and while the injury isn’t usually considered that serious, it is enough to end her career,” Kavanagh said.
“The usual prognosis on this sort of injury is three months – and that was the time frame we had on the remainder of her racing career,” he added.
Connections of the mare were eyeing off a trip to England to contest the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“It’s obviously disappointing to lose her while she had some good racing ahead of her through the Doncaster and possibly to England, but it wasn’t to be.”
Divine Madonna, an earner of over $2 million, is regarded as one of the finest milers Australia has produced over recent seasons and she is a fan amongst punters with her typical whirlwind finishes.
“She was the loveliest mare to train,” Kavanagh said. “It has been a great ride since I purchased her as a yearling from the Magic Millions Sale in Adelaide.”
“She turned into a real stable favourite over the past few seasons. All of our staff will miss her a lot,” Kavanagh summed up.
Divine Madonna, from just 26 starts, won eight races and was a minor placegetter on seven other occasions. She won her connections over $2 million.
She is best remembered for her come from behind wins in the Emirates Stakes, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Myer Classic and Toorak Handicap – all at Group One level.
“I think she will become a fantastic broodmare and I can look forward to seeing her foals over the seasons to come.”