Star mare Libertini dies from heart attack
In sad news out of the Anthony Cummings stable, star mare Libertini has suffered from a heart attack and passed away during track work this morning.
Libertini was on track to contest the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) this Saturday first up from a spell after a dominant trial win at Randwick on March 18.
The five-year-old I Am Invincible mare had amassed almost $2 million in prizemoney for owners Gerry Harvey and Strawberry Hills Stud with a 16:5-1-4 record and three Group 2 wins under her belt.
During her two-year-old season, she ran second in the 2019 Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at her first start before a dominant win in a two-year-old fillies maiden at Randwick a fortnight later. Her first black-type win came next in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone the following fortnight.
Libertini started her three-year-old season winning both the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Furious Stakes (1200m) and a narrow third in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), beaten just 0.2 lengths.
After a freshen up, Melbourne called and she went down to run a nice third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
The consistent mare earned herself a slot in the 2020 running of The Everest (1200m) and was up there with the favourites following her Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) win two weeks earlier, subsequently coming in eighth after being caught wide.
Her best form after that was a third in the 2021 Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Mooney Valley, but she had done enough to again contest The Everest in October, placing eighth.
The Classique Legend Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on October 30 was her last race start, finishing 10th of 14.
After a good spell, Libertini appeared back in great form in her recent trial heading into the TJ Smith this coming weekend.
Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud have expressed their great sadness in losing the champion mare: “She was loved by all who spent time with her and we will miss her dearly.”