With the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast upcoming, the connections of Aviatress had been planning a dual Group 1 assault in Adelaide.
But a hiccup on the eve of the mare’s first assignment in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on April 25 put an end to aspirations of running in The Goodwood (1200m) on Saturday.
Instead, Aviatress heads to the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) on Saturday as her farewell outing for trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly and owner David Price.
Aviatress drew barrier 17 in the Robert Sangster, and while it was far from ideal, a developing abscess resulted in the mare missing the race.
“She pulled up sore in a foot after galloping on the Tuesday before the Sangster,” Richard Jolly said.
“She had a tiny little abscess rear its head but after three or four days she got over it.
“We galloped her on Saturday morning and we decided not to pursue The Goodwood and instead go to the softer option of the Proud Miss.
“After that she heads up to the Gold Coast to go through the mare’s sale.”
Aviatress has raced on 22 occasions for seven wins and six minor placings, collecting just shy of $570,000 in prize money.
A multiple Stakes winner, the biggest win of Aviatress’ career came in the 2024 Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) during the Caulfield Cup Carnival.
Jolly said Aviatress was a homebred by Price who also has a Rich Enuff colt from the dam Twin Star Rocket while that mare is again into foal to Smart Missile.
“There will be a full sister or brother to Aviatress coming up,” Jolly said.
Jolly said while Saturday’s outing will be the last for his stable, he said the mare still had racing left in her if those new owners wanted to go down that path.
“Saturday will be her last run for us, and she will be sold,” Jolly said.
“It will be up to the new owners to decide what they want to do as she’s still got racing in her if they want to go that way.”
