A prominent contender for the upcoming Royal Ascot event has encountered an unexpected mishap while undergoing preparation for her final race before the competition. Lady Of Camelot, a prized sprinter hailing from Australia under the tutelage of trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, boasts an impressive track record, having amassed close to £3 million in earnings and securing a notable victory in the 2024 Golden Slipper.
The decision to participate in this year’s Royal Ascot was made public several months ago, with Lady Of Camelot being slated to compete in both the King Charles III Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where she held odds of 8-1 and 10-1 respectively. Her final race before heading to the UK was scheduled to be the Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane, Queensland.
However, her plans were abruptly derailed as she had to be withdrawn from the scheduled race and the upcoming Royal Ascot event due to an unfortunate incident during a routine beach exercise. According to local stewards, Lady Of Camelot sustained injuries to her near foreleg after encountering a stingray while swimming at the beach, necessitating immediate treatment by the stable veterinarian.
The owner’s statement from Go Bloodstock Australia confirmed the withdrawal, citing the stingray incident as the reason for ending Lady Of Camelot’s Brisbane Winter Carnival and international campaigns. Expressing disappointment over the turn of events, a spokesperson emphasized the priority of the horse’s well-being and recovery during this challenging period.
Lady Of Camelot was not the sole Australian-trained sprinter to face setbacks for Royal Ascot, as Chris Waller also announced the exclusion of Generosity from the competition. Despite these setbacks, Waller is still expected to be represented by Joliestar, while debut appearances will be made by trainers like Bjorn Baker with Overpass and Henry Dwyer with Asfoora, the previous winner of the King Charles event two years ago.
