Triple group one winner Dunaden retired from racing
The eight-year-old (pictured winning the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup) recently suffered a training set back which would have impacted on his preparation for another overseas autumn campaign. Consequently, it was agreed by his trainer Mikel Delzangles and owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani that the horse "owes none of us anything" and had more than earned his retirement.
A three-time Group 1 winner with earnings of over £5m, Dunaden's career had humble beginnings. He was sold as a foal for €1,500 and was broken-in in Holland before going into training in Germany. He was bought out of a claimer in May 2009 and the following year, when trained by Richard Gibson in France, was purchased by David Redvers on behalf of Pearl Bloodstock with a view to running at Longchamp on Arc day, albeit at that stage the only suitable race for Dunaden was the day's concluding handicap.
A year later, under the care of Delzangles, Dunaden landed the richest handicap in the world when beating fellow globe-trotting millionaire Red Cadeaux in the closest finish ever for the Melbourne Cup. Further Group One wins were achieved in the Hong Kong Vase and back in Melbourne when Dunaden won the 2012 Caulfield Cup. His 2013 European Group 1 form included runner-up spots to St Nicholas Abbey at Epsom and Novellist at Saint-Cloud.
Sheikh Fahad said: "In winning the Melbourne Cup, Dunaden gave me the most exciting day's racing I have ever had. He has been a dream horse to own. He has taken us all over the world from Europe to Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia and every time he tries his heart out and runs his race. He owes none of us anything.
"I would like thank Richard Gibson who trained the horse when we bought him and in whose care Dunaden would have stayed but for Richard moving to Hong Kong. As a result, Mikel Delzangles inherited a horse on the upgrade and he did the most wonderful job training him to win three Group Ones and to compete at the very top level all over the world for four consecutive seasons.
"Perhaps Dunaden's greatest legacy is that his success ignited my brothers' interest to become involved in racehorse ownership. His career has played a vital role in the evolution of Qatar Racing, an operation which now has over 200 horses in training worldwide."
Dunaden's trainer, Mikel Delzangles, said: "Dunaden will be very missed by all of us in the yard, but we are so proud of what he has achieved and very happy that he will get to stand at stud. He always showed us that anything is possible when you have a big heart. I owe him so much, much more than just victories. He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse."
A decision will now be made on where Dunaden will be retired to stud.