Dubai Destination

Last updated
Dubai Destination
Sire Kingmambo
Grandsire Mr. Prospector
DamMysterial
Damsire Alleged
Sex Stallion
Foaled10 February 1999 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Calumet Farm
Owner Sheikh Mohammed
Godolphin
Trainer David Loder
Saeed bin Suroor
Record8: 4-2-0
Earnings£238,417
Major wins
Champagne Stakes (2001)
Queen Anne Stakes (2003)

Dubai Destination (foaled 11 February 1999) is a retired American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. As a two-year-old he showed great promise, winning two of his three races including the Champagne Stakes, but was beaten on his only run in 2002. He returned after a year-long absence in 2003 and recorded his biggest win when taking the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was retired to stud at the end of the year and has had some notable successes as a breeding stallion.

Contents

Background

Dubai Destination is a bay horse with no white markings bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm. His sire, Kingmambo was a highly successful breeding stallion whose progeny included the British Classic winners Russian Rhythm, King's Best, Henrythenavigator, Virginia Waters and Rule of Law as well as major winners in Japan (El Condor Pasa), France (Divine Proportions) and the United States (Lemon Drop Kid). [2] Dubai Destination's dam, Mysterial showed no ability as a racehorse [3] but became a very successful broodmare: her other foals have included Librettist (Prix Jacques Le Marois, Prix du Moulin) and Secret Number (Cumberland Lodge Stakes). Mysterial was a half-sister to Agnes World, a Japanese-trained sprinter who won the Prix de l'Abbaye and the July Cup in Europe. [4]

In July 2000, the yearling colt was sent to the Keeneland sale and was bought for $1.5 million by John Ferguson Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed. [5] Dubai Destination was sent to Europe and entered the stable of David Loder at Newmarket. He was ridden in all but one of his races by Frankie Dettori.

Racing career

2001: two-year-old season

Dubai Destination made his racing debut in a six furlong maiden race at Newbury Racecourse on 14 June 2001. He started the 1/2 favourite in a twenty-runner field, but after taking the approaching the final furlong he was caught in the final strides and beaten a short head by the John Gosden-trained Waldenburg. A month later he was made 1/3 favourite for a maiden race over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. He disputed the lead for most of the way and drew away in the closing stages to win by three and a half length from Sohaib (later to win the Dee Stakes). [6] On 14 September Dubai Destination was moved up in class to contest the Group Two Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. He started the 3/1 second favourite behind the Irish-trained Rock of Gibraltar who had won the Railway Stakes and the Gimcrack Stakes. After being restrained at the back of the eight-runner field, accelerated in the last quarter mile, overtook Rock of Gibraltar 100 yards from the finish and won by a length despite being eased down by Dettori in the final strides. [7]

2002: three-year-old season

Dubai Destination joined Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Racing operation and spent the winter of 2001/2002 in Dubai where he was trained by Saeed bin Suroor. He returned to Britain in the spring of 2002 and was strongly-fancied for the 2000 Guineas but had training problems [8] and made only one racecourse appearance. On 21 May, ridden by Jamie Spencer, he started favourite for the Predominate Stakes over eleven furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse but was beaten two lengths into second place by the Michael Jarvis trained Coshocton. [9]

2003: four-year-old season

After an absence of more than a year, Dubai Destination returned for a minor stakes race over one mile at Nottingham Racecourse on 4 June 2003. He took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish and won easily by six lengths at odds of 2/5. [10] Two weeks later, Dubai Destination was sent to Royal Ascot where he was one of ten horses to contest the Queen Anne Stakes which was being run for the first time as a Group One race. He was made the 9/2 second favourite behind Hawk Wing, whilst the other contenders included Where Or When (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), Tillerman (Celebration Mile), Desert Deer (Sandown Mile), Victory Moon (UAE Derby) and Right Approach. Dettori restrained Dubai Destination towards the rear of the field before making progress approaching the final turn. He took the lead two furlongs out and drew away to win by four lengths from Tillerman with Right Approach three quarters of a length back in third. [11] The runner-up was later disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance. [12]

Dubai Destination failed to repeat his Royal Ascot form in two subsequent races. In August he started favourite for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville Racecourse but finished fifth of the twelve runners behind Six Perfections. On his final appearance he started third favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, but ran poorly and finished last of the eight runners behind Falbrav. [13]

Stud record

At the end of his racing career, Dubai Destination was retired to become a breeding stallion for his owner's Darley Stud organisation, beginning his stud career at the Dalham Hall Stud. [14] The best of his offspring have included Farraaj (Winter Derby), Ibn Khaldun (Racing Post Trophy), Top Trip (Prix Hocquart), Alanza (Sceptre Stakes), Family One (Prix Robert Papin), Evading Tempete (Premio Regina Elena), Sampson (New Zealand St. Leger) and Fleche d'Or, dam of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn. [15] Standing at Glenview Stud in County Cork in 2010. [16] Standing in Saudi Arabia in 2015.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Dubai Destination (USA), bay stallion, 1999 [1]
Sire
Kingmambo (USA)
1990
Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970
Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Miesque (USA)
1984 
Nureyev Northern Dancer
Special
Pasadoble Prove Out
Santa Quilla
Dam
Mysterial (USA)
1994
Alleged (USA)
1974
Hoist the Flag Tom Rolfe
Wavy Navy
Princess Pout Prince John
Determined Lady
Mysteries (USA)
1986
Seattle Slew Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Phydilla Lyphard
Godzilla (Family: 6-b) [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubai Millennium</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Dubai Millennium was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. The colt was trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during his racing career from 1998 and 2000. He is notable for winning a series of major races in 1999 and 2000, including the Dubai World Cup. He died after contracting grass sickness at the age of five.

Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rewilding (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Rewilding was a thoroughbred racehorse. He won races at Royal Ascot and in Dubai. His finest hour came when winning the 2011 Prince Of Wales Stakes, beating Australian superstar So You Think. As a 3-year-old he won the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood and the Great Voltiguer Stakes at York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyen (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Doyen is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, who was bred in Ireland but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 2002 to 2005. He is best known for winning the 2004 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island Sands</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Island Sands was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from August 1998 to June 2001 he ran nine times and won four races. His most notable success came in his first race as a three-year-old in 1999, when he won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. His subsequent career was restricted by injury and he won only one minor race in the next two years. He retired to a stud career in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramonti</span> French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ramonti is a retired French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He was originally trained in Italy, where he won eight races at the ages of three and four including the Group One Premio Vittorio di Capua. He was then bought by Godolphin Racing and was trained in Britain and the United Arab Emirates by Saeed Bin Suroor. For his new connections Ramonti won three of Britain's most important mile races in 2007, before winning the ten furlong Hong Kong Cup. At the end of the season he was one of the highest-ranked racehorses in the world over one mile. Ramonti was retired to stud after a single unsuccessful start in 2008. He is currently based in Poland.

Rule of Law, is a retired World Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in the United States but trained in Britain. In a career which lasted from June 2003 until September 2004, he ran nine times and won four races. He recorded his most important victory when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes on his final racecourse appearance. He had previously finished second in the 2004 Epsom Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nedawi</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Nedawi, is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In a career that lasted from June 1998 until July 1999, he ran seven times and won three races. He recorded his most important success by winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1998, the same year that he won the Gordon Stakes. In the following season he finished second in the Dubai Turf Classic and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before being retired to stud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Cliche</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Classic Cliche, is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in Britain and the United Arab Emirates. In a career which lasted from August 1994 until September 1997, he ran sixteen times and won six races. He recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1995, the same year in which he won the Dante Stakes. In the following season he became the first Classic winner in fifty years to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

Papineau was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a juvenile, he showed promise as a three-year-old in France, winning two races including the Prix de l'Avre. As a four-year-old, he was campaigned in England and was unbeaten in three starts. After winning a minor race on his seasonal debut he won a strongly-contested edition of the Henry II Stakes and then recorded his biggest success in the Ascot Gold Cup. He made two appearances as a five-year-old but failed to recover his best form.

Starborough was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He usually led from the start of his races and was best at distances of around one mile. Bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained in England by David Loder he showed promising form as a two-year-old in 1996, winning on his debut and finishing third and fourth against better opposition in his other two races. In the following year he finished fourth in the 2000 Guineas before recording Group One victories in the Prix Jean Prat and the St James's Palace Stakes, beating a particularly strong field in the latter race. Later that summer he finished second in the Sussex Stakes and fourth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. He moved to the Godolphin stable in 1998 but his form deteriorated and he failed to win in three races. After he retired from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in France and had some success as a sire of winners.

So Factual was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Khalid Abdullah and sent to race in Europe where he proved to be one of the leading sprinters of his time. As a juvenile he ran three times, winning on his debut and finishing second in the Coventry Stakes. In the following year he won the European Free Handicap but was well beaten in his next two races and was then sold and sent to compete in the United Arab Emirates. In 1994 he won three races in Dubai and was then returned to Europe in the ownership of Godolphin Racing. He reached his peak as a five-year-old in 1995 when he recorded victories in the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes. He was retired to stud at the end of the year.

Ibn Khaldun was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed. He had his greatest success racing as a two-year-old in Britain in 2007 when he won four consecutive races including the Autumn Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. He was strongly fancied for the following year's 2000 Guineas but ran poorly in the race. After a long absence he returned to the track in Dubai as a five-year-old but was well beaten in both his races.

Lujain was an American-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed his best form as a two-year-old in 1998 when he won his first three races by wide margins, culminating in a victory in the G1 Middle Park Stakes. He made no impact in three subsequent races and was retired to stud at the end of 1999. He had little success as a breeding stallion.

Diktat is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He spent most of his racing career at distances of around seven furlongs but recorded his two biggest wins when dropped to sprint distances. Unplaced on his only start as a two-year-old in 1997 he showed improved form in 1998, winning his first three races including the Jersey Stakes but missed the second half of the season. He returned as a four-year-old to win four major races from five starts: his victories came in the Shergar Cup Seven Stakes, Criterion Stakes, Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Haydock Sprint Cup. He failed to win in 2000 but finished second in the Yasuda Kinen and third in the Prix du Moulin. He stood as a breeding stallion in England, France, Japan and Spain and sired several important winners including Dream Ahead and Rajeem.

Creachadoir is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a specialist miler who won four of his fifteen races between May 2006 and March 2009. Originally trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger he showed promise without winning in two races as a juvenile in 2006. In the first half of 2007 he won the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial and the Tetrarch Stakes and went on to finish second in both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was then bought by Godolphin and won the Joel Stakes before being narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Mile. In May 2008 he recorded his biggest success when he won the Group One Lockinge Stakes over one mile at Newbury Racecourse. He then suffered a serious leg injury and made only one subsequent appearance before being retired from racing in 2009. He has had limited success as a breeding stallion.

Poet's Voice was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very good form as a two-year-old in 2009 when he won two races including the Champagne Stakes. He failed to live up to his promise in the first half of the following year but then returned to form to win the Celebration Mile and then defeated a very strong field to take the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He never won again and was retired at the end of 2011. He was a headstrong and unpredictable racehorse, breaking out of the starting stalls on one occasion and biting one of his rivals on another. He made a very promising start to his stallion career, siring the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Poet's Word in his first season at stud.

Where Or When was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed good form as a two-year-old in 2001, winning three races including the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes as well as finishing fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes and the Solario Stakes. In the following year he ran unplaced in the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby before recording his first win almost ten months when he took the Thoroughbred Stakes. On his final run of the year he recorded his biggest victory when he upset the odds-on favourite Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In 2003 he failed to win but was placed in the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes. After his retirement from racing he had modest success as a breeding stallion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Darn Hot (horse)</span> Thoroughbred racehorse

Too Darn Hot is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a short racing career lasting less than a year he ran nine times and won six of his races, including three at the highest Group 1 level. As a two-year-old in 2018 he was rated the best of his generation in Europe, winning the Solario Stakes, Champagne Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. He was beaten when favourite or joint-favourite in his first three races in 2019 but returned to form when winning the Prix Jean Prat and Sussex Stakes in the summer. His career was ended by an injury sustained during his final race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palace Pier (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Palace Pier is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won two minor events as a juvenile and a handicap race on his three-year-old debut before emerging as a top-class performer with victories in the St James's Palace Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois. In 2021 he won the Sandown Mile, Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and a second Prix Jacques Le Marois.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dubai Destination pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  2. "Kingmambo Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  3. "Mysterial – Statistics". Equibase.
  4. 1 2 "Horatia – Family 6-b". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  5. "Keeneland sale July 2000". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  6. "Strutt & Parker Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 10 July 2001.
  7. "Champagne Stakes result". Racing Post. 14 September 2001.
  8. "Godolphin – Dubai Destination (USA)". godolphin.com.
  9. "Predominate Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 May 2002.
  10. "Scottish Equitable/ Jockeys Association Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 4 June 2003.
  11. "Dubai Destination Wins Queen Anne Stakes". BloodHorse.com. 17 June 2003.
  12. "Queen Anne Stakes result". Racing Post. 17 June 2003.
  13. "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes result". Racing Post. 27 September 2003.
  14. "Group I Winner Dubai Destination Retired to Dalham Hall in England". BloodHorse.com. 6 October 2003.
  15. "Dubai Destination – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  16. "Glenview Stud". directoryoftheturf.com.