The racing career of exciting mare Sakura Blossom is over.
The daughter of Vancouver had won two of her three starts and was set for an exciting summer with nominations for both the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m).
However, injury has taken its toll on the four-year-old, who will now head to the broodmare paddock.
“Unfortunately, she has had to be retired,” trainer Ben Foote said.
“She has the same ongoing issue in her right knee. She has had surgery on it before and she raced the other day with another two chips in it.”
It’s a devastating outcome for Foote, who said she oozed talent.
“I wanted to cry, she is potentially the best horse I have had anything to do with,” he said.
“I was ripped up about it, but it is what it is. She will make a great broodmare I am sure.”
Foote was aware he never had long with the mare after her previous injury, but he was still dejected about losing the mare from his barn before she was able to test herself in stakes company.
“Murray Brightwell (veterinarian) always told me ‘I have only 10 to 15 starts max with this horse, so you are going to have to aim high if you think she is good enough’,” Foote said.
“We have done that. People may have thought I was overhyping her, but she was definitely a Group One horse, we will just never be able to see it unfortunately.”
A decision on her immediate future will be made within the next few days.
“They have checked her out this morning and they are going to make a decision today whether she goes straight to a stallion or they wait for next year,” Foote said. - NZ Racing Desk
