Breeding
Arrowfield's grand mare Miss Finland dies of a chronic respiratory disease
Miss Finland, the Queen of Arrowfield Stud, has been humanely put down after suffering complications from a chronic respiratory disease.
"We gave her the best of veterinary care but she wasn't responding as well as we hoped,'' Messara said.
"Then she started to have some breathing difficulties and I told the vets to do what they could but not to let her suffer.
"She has been so good to us and I couldn't bear to think she was suffering. This is a very sad day for everyone at Arrowfield because she has been such a special mare.''
Messara has owned many outstanding racehorses including unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow , who is racing for her ninth win in succession in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, but ranks champion Miss Finland as the best he has raced.
"A lot of people have been asking me to compare Autumn Glow with Miss Finland but I have to say, right now, Miss Finland has the superior race record,'' Messara said.
"In time, Autumn Glow may very well prove to be the better horse but she has a bit to do to catch up with Miss Finland.
"I keep thinking about what Miss Finland achieved in 2006 when she won the Golden Slipper over 1200m then later that year won the VRC Oaks at 2500m which is a remarkable achievement.
"She was a champion racehorse and passed on those qualities at stud where she was a very good broodmare, producing a Group 1 winner, Stay With Me, who emulated her dam by winning the Thousand Guineas (2012).''
A daughter of Arrowfield's super sire Redoute's Choice, Miss Finland was trained by David Hayes to win 11 of her 26 starts including 10 stakes successes, earning more than $4.3 million prizemoney.
Miss Finland, who remains the only winner of the Golden Slipper-VRC Oaks double, trained on to win the Australian Guineas and Arrowfield Stakes at Group 1 level.
She was voted Australian Champion Two-year-old in 2006 and Champion Three-year-old in 2007.
Messara is hoping to end a sombre week on a more upbeat note when Autumn Glow attempts to extend her unbeaten record in Saturday's star-studded Apollo Stakes.
There are six individual Group 1 winners in the weight-for-age sprint including $10 million earner Ceolwulf, and outstanding mares Stefi Magnetica and Aeliana, but Autumn Glow's burgeoning reputation means she is the dominant TAB Fixed Odds favourite at $1.55.
Autumn Glow, a daughter of Messara's former outstanding colt and now emerging champion sire The Autumn Sun – himself a son of Redoute's Choice – hasn't raced since ending her triumphant spring campaign with wins in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle.
Trainer Chris Waller has primed Autumn Glow for her return to racing with two barrier trials including an impressive effort when a close second to the brilliant Marhoona in a 900m heat at Randwick late last month.
"I can't wait to see Autumn Glow back at the races,'' Messara said.
"The reports we are getting from Chris (Waller) and his team are that the mare is going very well.
"She is up against a very good field and it won't be easy but we do have a lot of confidence in this mare. We still don't know how good she is so it is going to be exciting to see what she can do this autumn.''
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