Group 1 winning mare Norzita has been ruled out of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival after suffering a soft tissue injury to the off-fore leg.

Norzita will miss the rest of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival due to injury. Photo by: Steve Hart

Norzita completed her final gallop before Saturday’s Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) this morning but Cummings stable veterinarian Chris O’Sullivan was not happy with her action and sent her for precautionary scans.

Scans showed that the daughter of Thorn Park had sustained an injury to her off fore tendon and trainer co-trained James Cummings immediately ruled the four-year-old out of the Tramway Handicap and the remainder of her spring campaign.

“We are devastated that Norzita has upset her off fore tendon after only having an easy gallop this morning,” Cummings wrote on the stables website.

“She will go to Think Big Stud and be given the best of care in the hope that she can recover from this injury.

“We have every intention of doing the best for the horse and Norzita will go for her spell next week.”

Norzita stamped herself as a major contender for the major Group 1 races during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival with her impressive third place finish behind Rebel Dane in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m), where she flew home late carrying the top-weight.

The four-year-old was the favourite for the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) this weekend and was set to contest the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 21 before heading to Melbourne for the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 12 and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.

Connections may consider sending Norzita straight to the breeding as she already has Group 1 victories in the Flight Stakes (1600m) and Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on her racing resume.