Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed on Wednesday that last seasons triple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion will not be retired and will instead return to action in 2019 in what is set to be her final campaign as a racehorse.
The daughter of Dubawi has been a really special for horse for the Appleby yard, spending most of her career underestimated in tough Group 1 races but more times than not producing the goods to land some big races.
The three year old has raced nine times in her career and it started as a two year old at Yarmouth when she took a Class 5 with ease and really set the cat amongst the pigeons as to what this filly could turn into.
In her debut season she fulfilled her potential by taking the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly, really making her one to watch for her next campaign as a three year old.
She returned as a three year old and her first race was a tough seasonal reappearance in the 1,000 Guineas where she finished a positive fourth but did give her some doubters on how good she actual was but at the back end of the last flat season she went on to take two Group 1s in brilliant style.
She first landed the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood beating some strong Group 1winning mares and turning the 1,000 Guineas form on its head. In the next race she landed back to back Group 1s when winning the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Arc weekend in Paris.
Her final run of the season came at the Breeders Cup meeting where she was not disgraced at all and did better than most the English raiders that went over, finishing second in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf.
(Credit Racing UK) Her trainer Charlie Appleby said: "Wild Illusion is staying in training next season and for sure it is nice to have these good older horses.
“She lost nothing in defeat in the Breeders’ Cup and ever since her third run she has only raced at Group One level, except when running in the Ribblesdale (Group Two) at Royal Ascot.
"We will see how she is in the spring and what progress she is making, and then look at what races we will take in.
“She is good at a mile and a quarter and I don’t see any reason why we should take her out of that sphere, as she has proven herself at the highest level over that trip.
“I don’t see anything much to gain by stretching her out for that extra two furlongs.”