Millwood Nike just a few days ago looked likely to hit high on the comeback trail but a reoccurence of her tendon injury means that today she has been retired.
“I had been very happy but a couple of days ago. I didn’t feel she was quite at her best one morning and the next day also.A scan showed that there was a tear in the tendon at the same spot as had occured last time. After a conference with her owners they decided on her retirement” Mark said
“There would be ways and means of getting her back to racing but we all considered going out unbeaten was better than running fourth or fifth in top races when she could not show all of her brilliance”
Millwood Nike had been aimed at the New Zealand Free for All on Show Day. Now her future relies on a meeting of her owner’s syndicate on Wednesday which would determine whether a breeding career or possible sale would be the path to the future instead of a triumphant racing comeback.
Her owners Steve Byrne,Steve Thompson, Bruce Irvine and Shane and Frank Endacott are of the sporting type to always put the horse first but the news mujst be a body blow.
Millwood Nike is regarded by many as the best performed filly of this century to date. Mark himself rates her alongside the mighty Adore Me and says his biggest thrill was the sensational performance put up in the Nevele R Final on Cup Day last year-as most would agree.
The filly overcame setbacks in the running to win by 6 lengths in 2.20.4 on a 1.54 mile rate. It was a crowd stunning performance of the like only rarely seen even on Cup Day. She only had one more start before a leg problem became apparent. However it was caught early and there were high hopes a comeback was likely.
“You always know there can be a problem eventually with those sort of injuries.But she had recovered better than many past ones I have dealt with and it is a blow” Mark said.
“Nike’s” 17 win streak included a 1.52.7 mile rate at Ashburton in a Sires Stakes heat at 2 when trained by Mark in partnership with Hayden Cullen as she was until the end of 2023.Six of her wins were at Group 1 level as she dominated the fillies of her era.
So many were looking forward to her return this spring and the injury is a major blow to thousands of fans and racing promoters alike apart from connections.
However the memory of a wonderful career will be with us all for a long time