Time called on quality mare

15 February 2016

WS’s Group Two-winning mare Sports Illustrated has been forced into pre-mature retirement. The curtain fell on the racing career of the Garry Chittick-bred and raced daughter of Fast ‘N’ Famous following an injury to a suspensory in Saturday’s Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa.

“She knuckled over and slipped quite badly about two-strides out of the gates,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.

“On Sunday morning when I got to the stable and we walked her out of her box, it was pretty obvious she had injured herself pretty badly, and scans confirmed it.”

Sports Illustrated won the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa in 2014, and was also twice Group One placed, including a third behind Kawi and Stolen Dance in last month’s Thorndon Mile.

“The main thing is she will heal in time, and she will get every chance as a broodmare at Waikato Stud,” Forsman said.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Well, reprimanded I have been. I confess to forgetting about last week’s Corner. At 4pm, it dawned on me I had not put finger to iPad, it was then too late. However, you two need to accept there is not always something worthy of comment. I will endeavour to search deeper into racing’s mysteries to retain your interest.

4 December 2025

La Dorada’s half-brother wins on debut for Yulong

Could Group 1 lightning strike twice? At Geelong on Thursday, 4 December, it was Golden Pulse (Tivaci ex Gold Fever) who made an immediate impression on debut, scoring a decisive two-length win over 1147m in the bottle-green and white colours of Yulong.