Superstar race mare Orchestral has been retired from racing after being diagnosed with a rare and persistent heart condition, her trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have confirmed.
The $2.7 million-earning mare suffered atrial fibrillation during the Dunstan Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe last month. While the condition — an irregular heartbeat — is not uncommon in racehorses and often resolves naturally within days, Orchestral’s heart has not returned to normal rhythm.
Despite receiving Quinidine, the most effective drug for restoring correct cardiac rhythm in horses, and consulting leading international specialists, Orchestral’s heartbeat remains irregular.
“She has had the best treatment possible and even had some of the world leaders in the field from Europe advising on her condition but her heart won’t return to normal,” Wellwood told the NZ Herald.
“It won’t affect her having a normal, healthy life but she obviously can’t race anymore.
“But she is going to be fine, which is the most important thing.”
Orchestral retires with just 18 starts under her belt but a race record that cemented her among the elite, winning seven races — three of them worth $1 million or more — and producing some of the most breathtaking performances seen in recent seasons.
The champion mare will now embark on her next chapter off the track, with her connections confident she will enjoy a long, healthy life.