"Clifton Red had a very rare type of cancer, called a haemangiosarcoma,"
explained veterinarian Stacey Sullivan of Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital."It is a type of tumour composed of lots of abnormal blood vessels that can rupture and bled uncontrollably.
"The tumour was primarily located in the triceps muscle and very likely it had grown rapidly during the month or two before presentation. Haemangiosarcomas are generally considered aggressive and rapidly progressive cancers. At the time of diagnosis, they are usually incurable.
"Until the problem occurred the filly appeared in excellent health and had raced very well during her previous preparations. To date, there is no evidence to suggest equine haemangiosarcoma is heritable."
A two year-old daughter of Sebring, Clifton Red was retained to race by Bill Cockram and won the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes on debut in March. She was not far away in subsequent runs in top fillies events in Sydney during the autumn and promised to be a star of the new season.
As a half-sister to Group II winner Sertorius and stakes-placed Fortune of War and I Am Titanium, Clifton Red would have been an extremely valuable broodmare for the future being from Shadow Glen Stud's exceptional producer Pretty Penny.
The stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare has left four Black Type performers from her only foals to race and has a rising two year-old colt by High Chaparral (IRE).
She is currently in foal to Sebring so will produce a full sibling to Clifton Red this spring.
