Group 1 Oaks winner retired after fetlock issue

Group 1-winning mare Leica Lucy has been retired from racing after surgery to remove bone chips from her fetlock failed to resolve the problem.

Prominent owner Ozzie Kheir and the mare’s other Australian shareholders will retain Leica Lucy for her broodmare career, while breeders Peter and Heather Crofskey have sold their interest to the remaining ownership group.

Home Affairs is among the stallions being considered for Leica Lucy’s first mating, although connections are yet to confirm a booking.

“She wasn’t striding out in her trials and I thought ‘something is wrong here’,” Heather Crofskey told NZ Racing Desk. “The operation that she had on her fetlock (to remove bone chips) didn’t work.”

Leica Lucy underwent the operation following four unplaced performances during the autumn, but concerns remained when she returned for two trials last month. Connections subsequently made the decision to end her racing career.

Bred in New Zealand by the Crofskeys, Leica Lucy is by Grangewilliam Stud stallion Derryn out of the winning Sir Percy mare Dynamite Lucy.

She began her career with New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson and emerged as one of New Zealand’s leading three-year-old fillies, winning six of her seven starts during a remarkable campaign.

Her biggest success came in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, while she also collected the Group 2 Lowland Stakes, Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic, Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes and Group 3 Eulogy Stakes.

Kheir joined the ownership group following her Desert Gold Stakes victory, and after her New Zealand Oaks triumph Leica Lucy transferred to Chris Waller in Australia.

She finished fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks before returning during the spring and proving herself against elite company.

Leica Lucy finished third in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap before producing another outstanding performance when runner-up to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes.

“The New Zealand Oaks was the highlight,” Crofskey said. “She wasn’t 100 percent in that race and she showed sheer guts.”