Elsdon Park are saddened to report the passing of star mare Lucia Valentina.

The triple Group One winning heroine was days away from being covered in Australia by leading stallion Zoustar.

For her owners Lib and Katrina Petagna, Lucia Valentina provided some huge thrills.

“Lucia Valentina has a special place in our hearts. She was named after our daughter and enabled us to enjoy some phenomenal family events,” recalled Lib Petagna.

“The whole family really got behind her and we had a lot of thrills with her.

“When you have a horse like Lucia, you bring people into racing that aren’t naturally interested and they get a real buzz out of it. This is what she enabled for us with our friends and family.”

Lucia Valentina was initially purchased by Bruce Perry for $60,000 from the draft of Blandford Lodge at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

“She had so much presence and personality from day one,” Perry said.

“She was pretty determined and had an incredible will to win. She knew who she liked and who she didn’t – i.e. some people and most horses. However, if you were one of the few she liked, she gave you everything.”

The Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax-bred daughter of Savabeel and Staryn Glenn won on debut at three for trainer Stephen Marsh and after winning the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, made her way to Australia to the yard of Kris Lees.

Under Lees’ guidance, she distinguished herself as the Group One winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

Victory would also come in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m), along with Group One placings in the Caulfield Cup (2400m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Australian Oaks (2400m) and the Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Lucia Valentina was the Top Filly of the 2013-14 Australasian 3YO Classification (Int.), the Joint Top Filly on the 2013-14 NZ 3YO Free H (1600m+), NSW Provincial Champion Horse of the Year in 2015 and boasted a World Thoroughbred Ranking of 117 in 2016.

“For me, her stand-out win was the Queen Elizabeth, where she stumbled twice, but picked herself up under Damien Oliver to explode away from her rivals. No one would have beaten her that day,” Perry said.

Having also enjoyed success on her in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes, Damien Oliver likewise held the mare in the highest regard.

“She was a lovely mare, who I have a lot of fond memories of. She was a dream to ride and definitely punched well above her weight. RIP beautiful girl,” Oliver said.

Since her retirement from racing, Lucia Valentina has produced five foals.

Her legacy is set to continue at Elsdon Park through her Group One-placed Snitzel daughter Luella Cristina and through her Per Incanto colt, who is now a yearling.

“A loss is always sad, but to lose a mare like Lucia who brought so much joy to so many people is really tough. She was a proper character and a great mother. Her legacy will live on at Elsdon Park, as will the many treasured memories she leaves us with,” said Elsdon Park General Manager, Kerrie Cox.