Black Caviar is to head back to Australia for a three-month break after incurring an injury while winning her 22nd consecutive race on Saturday (23 June).
The unbeaten mare was confirmed to have some soft tissue damage after narrowly winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Peter Moody described her as “very flat” but played down any rumours of retirement.
She will spend 14 days in quarantine in Britain before heading home to Australia, where she will spend a further fortnight in quarantine. Prior to her Ascot race connections had discussed running her in the July Cup at Newmarket.
Moody reported the mare had been thoroughly examined by vets since the race and had some soft tissue damage.
He added that she was “quite sore behind”, having injured her quadriceps muscle, and that she would now be having a three-month break.
If all goes to plan she will be aimed at the Patinack Farm Classic in Melbourne in November, which she has already won twice, and then possibly at a sprint in Hong Kong.
The Bel Esprit mare won by just a head to Moonlight Cloud in a nail-biting race, after jockey Luke Nolen eased off before the line. The jockey later admitted a “brain fade” and that he had “underestimated the tough track”.
And the owners of Black Caviar said they won’t be rushed into making any decisions about her future.
“Unfortunately England or Europe didn’t see the best of Black Caviar,” part owner Neil Werrett told At The Races.
“At the same time, we’re very thankful she won and she needs a bit of a rest now. We want to look after her and she did a great job.
“She’s a high maintenance horse and we want to make sure she’s well before she goes to race again. That’s something we’ll reassess in three or four weeks’ time.”
