Star Kiwi Mare Retired and Headed to Stud in Australia

Media Release - Thursday October 5
A recurring fetlock injury has robbed Capella of a start at Hastings and led to her early retirement.

The Gary Harding-bred and raced Rip Van Winkle five-year-old will fly to Australia next Tuesday with a tentative booking to Arrowfield Stud stallion Snitzel.

Capella - Trish DunnellMatamata trainer Danica Guy withdrew Capella from Saturday's Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings earlier this week after her fetlock injury flared up again.

"Things have just gone wrong with her. She sprained her fetlock in the Rich Hill Mile and she must have torn the ligament over the fetlock worse than we thought she had," Guy said.

"She'd been coming along great but it's just flared up. She's got no problem with her bone structure and she's X-rayed clean but it's just a shame this has happened again.

"Gary has had a good offer for her and he'll have to weigh that up but either way, she's heading off to Arrowfield on Tuesday."

Out of Harding's Group Three-winning Grosvenor mare Limerick, Capella won three of her 14 starts, claiming the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie as a three-year-old before finishing third in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa and fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.

She went on to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and seventh in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in Sydney.

"Her Eight Carat win was massive but her run in the Derby was super too. She only went down half a length," Guy said.

"I've had nothing that can gallop like her. She can run fast sectionals and maintain that. She's a bit freakish like that."

Without Capella, Galaxy Miss will be left to fly the flag for the stable this weekend, though Guy had yet to decide whether to tackle the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday or the New Zealand Red Cross 1400 at Te Rapa on Friday.

"My thinking is if we get a bit of rain, we may as well go down and run in the black-type race. If we had a shower or two of rain and the track was a dead four or five, it's probably a better race for her," Guy said.

"She's going okay. She's eating well and looks great. From barrier one, with Danielle [Johnson, jockey] on and carrying 53 kilos, she'd have to be a chance with the cut out of the track."

TAB bookmakers have Galaxy Miss at $16 for the Spring Sprint in a market headed by Francaletta at $4. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juddmonte Bred Orchid Bouquet Sells For Record 550,000 Guineas at Tattersalls July Day 2
rade soared on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale with a new record price of 550,000 guineas for Juddmonte’s ORCHID BOUQUET and four lots realising 300,000 guineas or more. The median and average were up 67% and 60% respectively from the equivalent day in 2024 and the clearance rate was an impressive 91%.
Pencarrow takes top billing in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Pencarrow Stud’s select offering of four broodmares proved to be the star attraction in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus on Wednesday, earning the two highest prices of the sale.
Tie the Knot Family Still Producing for Tait Family
The Tait family colours were making news last Saturday carried by progressive 2YO Buccleuch, who won the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and back in 2020 they won the same race with Cherry Tortoni and his half-brother was a winner at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Myracehorse Celebrate with Sapphire Rose, then Make it a Winning Double!
The Myracehorse syndicates bring new owners into racing and fresh from a big win at Ballarat on Tuesday with Volkano, the familiar colours were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury with the Bjorn Baker trained two year-old Sapphire Rose.