Thursday, 11 July 2013

Dubai Millennium's premature loss to Darley Breeding Empire

Dubai Millennium is probably the greatest colt to have ever been in Sheikh Mohammed's  Godolphin ownership. Trained at Moulten Paddocks in Newmarket by Saaed bin Suroor, Dubai Millennium proved himself one of the best racehorses in the early 2000's. 

By Seeking The Gold a son of Mr Prospector, Dubai Millennium is out of Group winner Colorado Dancer herself a daughter of broodmare sensation Fall Aspen, dam of 8 individual Group 1 winners. 

Dubai Millennium was initially named Yaazer (meaning white gazelle) but Sheikh Mohamned changed the name after the colt was identified  to be one of the more promising 2yo's for Godolphin that year.

An unbeaten debut winner as a 2yo at Yarmouth, Dubai Millennium suffered only one defeat in his racing career when things didn't go to plan in the Derby. He pulled very hard and finishes 9 Lengths adrift the winner Oath. Dubai Millennium signed off his 3yo career winning the Group 1 Prix Jaqoues Les Marois and the QEII. 

Returning to Dubai for the winter,Dubai Millennium started his 4yo season off to a flyer when scorching the opposition in the worlds richest race the Dubai World Cup. Frankie Dettori hailed him as "the best colt I've ever ridden he's incredible". After that win he returned to the UK where again he blitzed his rivals in the Prince Of Wales Stakes. 

There was serious demand by racing fans that Dubai Millennium face Irish Derby and Arc winner Montjeu in a battle to see who was the better horse. However the race didn't happen after Godolphin pulled their pride and joy out over an injury he sustained while in training and sadly Dubai Millennium would never race again.

Retiring to his birthplace Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. Dubai Millennium began his stud career at a fee of £100,000. After completing his first covering season tragedy struck when Dubai Millennium was diagnosed with grass sickness. Many attempts to save him where unsuccessful and he was euthanised while under anaesthetic on April 30th 2002. He was buried at Dalham Hall Stud. 

Eleven years later Dubai Millennium's premature death is still felt and seen as a huge blow to the stallion ranks. From his only foal crop he sired champion 2yo and classic winner Dubawi who is now one of the worlds leading stallions his progeny including Group 1 winners Al Kazeem, Makfi, Dubawi Heights, Poets Voice and Monterosso. Echo Of Light was another good horse from his sires only crop winning some Group races and placing in some of Europe's best Group 1's. Echo Of Light suffered a similar fate to his sire when a freak paddock accident claimed his short life at stud.   

Sheikh Mohammed's love for this horse was evident as he went out buying as much stock by his late sire as he could. Of Dubai Millennium's 56 living foals, Sheikh Mohammed owns 51 of them. 


Thirteen years after Godolphin still haven't seen a colt near enough to the brilliance of Dubai Millennium. His record as a sire with his only foal crop suggested that there was so much more talent to come. With his amazing pedigree Dubai Millennium was bred to excel as a racehorse and sire. He achieved superstar status as a racehorse but his sad premature death robbed him the chance to show how good he may have been as sire. His loss was a big blow to sire ranks and breeders and even more to Darley.     
            

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