Flying Ellie retired

Quality Southland harness racing filly Flying Ellie (Art Major) has been retired.

Owners Mark and Melanie Kingsbury along with trainer Nathan Williamson made the decision after the three year old filly performed below par in her last two starts.

“She ended up with a bit of a heart issue and the owners just think so much of her they’ve decided to have her as a broodmare,” Williamson said.

The first sign of the problem was at Ashburton when Flying Ellie after leading, dropped out and finished tenth in the final heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series.

“We couldn’t put our finger on any issue prior to that run. She’d trained really well leading into Tuesday (Nevele R Fillies Series Final) but once again when she was placed under pressure she didn’t finish her race off.”

Williamson said Canterbury Equine did some tests on the filly and found the problem.

Flying Ellie won four of her fourteen starts. Her biggest win was in the Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks Final.

She also ran second in the Group One Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park. As a two year old she won the Group Three Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic at Ascot Park.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink