Petrushka retired to stud

Top-flight filly Petrushka`s racing career is over after she suffered an injury when making her seasonal debut at Epsom last week.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old strained her right-fore tendon when disappointing in the Vodafone Coronation Cup and is now likely to be sold at auction later this year.

Harry Herbert, the managing director of the filly`s owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said today: 'This obviously explains her disappointing run which was too bad to be true.

'It is a bitter blow, not only for her owners in Highclere`s syndicate, but also for Sir Michael Stoute and his team who have done such a fantastic job in directing her racing career.'

Petrushka is sure to command great interest as a prospective broodmare when she eventually passes through the sales ring.

She won her only race at two in great style at Leicester and showed her brilliance early on at three when winning the Group Three Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket in impressive fashion.

Her three consecutive Group One victories in 2000 came in the Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks at the Curragh, the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York and the Prix de l`Opera at Longchamp.

She was also placed in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas and the Vodafone Oaks.

Herbert added: 'Fillies like this don`t come around very often and her race record speaks for itself.

'She looks sure to make a tremendous impact as a broodmare as she is not only a beautiful and correct filly to look at but she also boasts an outstanding pedigree being out of a half-sister to Spectrum and from the family of Millenary and Sun Princess.'

Petrushka is likely to be offered at either the Keeneland November Sales in Lexington, USA, or the Tattersalls December Sales in Newmarket.

Champion mare Dance Design, the winner of the 1996 Irish Oaks was sold for 2,500,000 guineas at Newmarket in 1997 to equal Tattersalls record price.