Malaysia`s champion mare CONFLUENCE`s chequered career has come to an end after she sustained a life-threatening injury in the S$3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup (SAIC) at Kranji last Sunday evening. The New Zealand eight-year-old by Paris Opera out of the Sir Tristram mare Tristrams Jewel was pulled up after only completing 800m of the 2,000m International Group 1 event and upon examination, was reported to have torn her ligaments in both her fore legs.

"She (CONFLEUNCE) is now in a cast and we`ll know more after the cast has been removed in four days` time. But for sure, she won`t be racing anymore,` said a dejected trainer and co-owner Francis Nathan who is still in Singapore with his champion galloper.

CONFLUENCE came into the SAIC on the back of a splendid run where she scored three consecutive big race victories and two minor placings in Malaysia.

CONFLUENCE won the RM1.5 million Selangor Gold Cup (2,000m) last June, then completed a hattrick with victories in the RM1 million Penang Sprint Trophy (1,400m) and the RM500,000 Coronation Cup (1,600m).

She then finished third in the Penang Governor Gold Cup (2,200m) last December and was beaten only half-a-length in the Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) in her seasonal debut prior to the SAIC.

CONFLUENCE, who career was once threatened by injury which required her to be spelled for nearly a year, first came into prominence when he scored an upset win in the Penang Governor Gold Cup in 2001.

The following year, she started only five times but won the Sultan Of Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) and the Coronation Cup and was named Horse of the Year.

She is the top choice for the annual award when the Malaysian racing fraternity meets later this year to elect the 2003 Horse of the Year.

In all, CONFLUENCE, who came to Malaysia unraced, started 40 times for 12 wins and 12 placings and won just over RM4 million in prizemoney, making her the second highest stakes earner after OUZO in local racing history.

If Confluence survives this ordeal, she is likely to enter the breeding barn.

"We`re taking it one step at a time. Right now, we`re desperately trying to save her life. Until she passes this obstacle, we can only pray and hope for the best. It`s funny how one moment she was travelling like a winner and the next, she is battling for her life.

"The jockey (Oscar Chavez) told me that he had never felt her travel so well early in the race before and was quite confident she would come home. But all of a sudden, her legs caved in," said co-owner N. Ratnasingham.

German raider EPALO made all the running to win the SAIC by five lengths, followed home by South Africa`s SURVEYOR who will remain in Singapore to continue her career.

TURFONLINE.COM