Delicacy forced into retirement after brave Perth Cup victory

UPDATE: STAR mare Delicacy has been retired three days after winning the $500,000 Group 2 Perth Cup.

Perth Cup 2016 : Jockey Peter Hall steers Delicacy to the G1X.com.au - Perth Cup win, ahead of favourite Neverland (ridden by William Pike)

STAR mare Delicacy has been retired three days after winning the $500,000 Group 2 Perth Cup.

The four-year-old reportedly tore both front tendons in the 2400m event.

Delicacy carried 59kg to victory in the Cup, a weight-carrying record for a winning mare.

She will be nursed back to health and become a valuable brood mare.

Owner-breeder Bob Peters said he was concerned about Delicacy’s welfare because it was the first time she had not “pulled up well”.

“She will be retired,” Peters said. “She has two torn tendons. It’s as bad as it gets.”

The news is a blow to the Victorian Racing Club as Delicacy was being touted as a likely starter in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March.

“She didn’t pull up as well as she normally does, so she will be having a decent spell,” Peters said.

“I don’t think we will be doing anything in the autumn and maybe it even means retirement, I don’t know.”

Jockey Peter Hall returns to scale jubiliant after steering Delicacy to victory.

Peters said Delicacy had been knocked around during the Perth Cup, a race in which she carried a record of 59kg for a winning mare.

He said it was too early to tell if or when the two-time Group 1 winner would return to racing.

“She has always pulled up pretty well after races, or very well, but this time she hasn’t,” he said.

“I’m always concerned if they don’t pull up really well ... they are animals, they get wear and tear after a while.”

Happy Retirement Delicacy. At least you went out swinging. #perthcup

— Joe (@JoeFundmee) January 5, 2016

Never got the attention she deserves being raced in WA, but Delicacy is an out and out superstar of the track

— Jake Steinhart (@Jakob_Steinhart) January 5, 2016

Sad news to hear Delicacy has been retired :(

— brad davidson (@braddavo) January 5, 2016

Sad to hear we won't get to see the Delicacy again after her brilliant Perth Cup win. You grow attached to the special horses!

— Mitch Jarvis (@Mitch_jarvis31) January 5, 2016

If Delicacy were to be cleared of long-term concerns the silver lining of a long break could be a rejuvenated horse for the Melbourne spring.

Peters said Delicacy had not shown anything special as a two-year-old.

“No, the opposite. She didn’t show us a lot early at all,” he said.

“She got to the trials and then she won her first start, which is a pretty good sign, and then she just kept improving.

“Every time you ask her to raise the bar, she does it.”

Owner Bob Peters has been forced to retire Delicacy.

Originally published as Delicacy forced into retirement after brave Perth Cup victory