The winner of this year’s Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap is thought to have suffered the career-ending injury when unplaced in the Gr.1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.

“There was some heat in the leg after she ran in the Galaxy and further tests revealed a tear in the ligament,” Lowry said.

“It is hugely disappointing for Grant and I as we think she was just reaching full maturity as a racehorse. Although she was a Group One winner the best was never really seen of her.”

Irish Fling was prepared by Lowry and Grant Cullen to win five of her 17 starts, including the Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in January and she only failed to earn a stake twice in her career.

The daughter of Darci Brahma was also successful in the Listed Pegasus Stakes in the spring and backed up four days later to finish third in the Gr.3 Stewards Stakes during the cup carnival at Riccarton.

The five-year-old was later a luckless fourth in the Gr.3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie before her swansong in the Galaxy in Sydney.

Out of the Group performed O’Reilly mare Irish Belle, she is from the family of the former champion three-year-old and dual Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Levin Classic winner Final Destination.

Irish Fling is owned by her Cambridge breeder Tony Rider and was raced by a syndicate headed by him, with most of the members being employees at a supermarket he owns.