Lady Of Camelot, a prominent contender at Royal Ascot, has encountered an unexpected injury while preparing for her final race before the prestigious event. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in Australia, the talented sprinter has amassed nearly £3 million in earnings, highlighted by a notable victory in the 2024 Golden Slipper.
The decision for Lady Of Camelot to participate in Royal Ascot had been made months ago, with entries in the King Charles III Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes where she was considered 8-1 and 10-1 prospects, respectively. Her last race before heading to the UK was scheduled to be the Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane, Queensland.
However, a routine training session on the beach took an unfortunate turn, leading to Lady Of Camelot being forced to withdraw from the upcoming race and miss Royal Ascot altogether. The mare sustained injuries to her near foreleg due to a stingray encounter during a morning swim, as confirmed by the local stewards.
The owner, Go Bloodstock Australia, released a statement on Instagram detailing the incident and the subsequent decision to end Lady Of Camelot’s current racing campaigns. The focus is now on her recovery and well-being, necessitating immediate withdrawal from both the Brisbane Winter Carnival and international competitions.
Expressing disappointment over the turn of events, a team spokesperson emphasized the horse’s exceptional abilities and the priority placed on her health and care during this challenging period. Lady Of Camelot was among the Australian-trained sprinters who had to withdraw from Royal Ascot entries, alongside Generosity from Chris Waller’s stable.
Despite these setbacks, other notable contenders such as Joliestar from Chris Waller and Overpass from Bjorn Baker are still set to compete at the royal meeting. Asfoora, trained by Henry Dwyer and a previous King Charles winner, is also part of the entries for the upcoming event.
