Provocative
Photo: Grant Peters
Tony Pike's Melbourne spring carnival hopes have suffered a blow with the forced retirement of his Group One winner Provocative.
The Cambridge trainer had high hopes for the Zabeel mare, who was being aimed at the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup.
"Unfortunately, a scan has showed she's got a little tear in her tendon and there's a fair bit of rehabilitation involved so after discussions with the owners the decision has been made to send her to stud," Pike said.
"She only had the eight starts and she did a super job, you could only think that she was going to get better. It's a great shame, but these things happen and you have to plug on."
Bred by Greg Tomlinson's Nearco Stud and born and raised at Curraghmore, Provocative was a $250,000 yearling purchase for Paul Moroney out of Curraghmore's 2014 NZB Premier Yearling Sale draft.
Provocative won four races for owners Robin Peel-Walker and Mark Wyborn with her victory in last season's Gr.1 Queensland Oaks the highlight of her brief career. - NZ Racing Desk
The Cambridge trainer had high hopes for the Zabeel mare, who was being aimed at the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup.
"Unfortunately, a scan has showed she's got a little tear in her tendon and there's a fair bit of rehabilitation involved so after discussions with the owners the decision has been made to send her to stud," Pike said.
"She only had the eight starts and she did a super job, you could only think that she was going to get better. It's a great shame, but these things happen and you have to plug on."
Bred by Greg Tomlinson's Nearco Stud and born and raised at Curraghmore, Provocative was a $250,000 yearling purchase for Paul Moroney out of Curraghmore's 2014 NZB Premier Yearling Sale draft.
Provocative won four races for owners Robin Peel-Walker and Mark Wyborn with her victory in last season's Gr.1 Queensland Oaks the highlight of her brief career. - NZ Racing Desk
