Dubai Millennium's Half-Brother to Stand in Australia

By Ric Chapman
Sheikh Mohammed was, and he'll say the same today too, always adamant Dubai Millennium was the best horse he'd ever seen and was going to be the best stallion. When he died after just one season at stud, the Sheikh was devastated.

Naturally enough, Dubai Millenium's debut crop has shown ability and looks certain to vindicate the Sheikh.

Now, in Australia, breeders can send mares to Dubai Excellence (by Highest Honor--Colorado Dancer), a half–brother to the ill-fated international champion Dubai Millennium.

WA Turf Club chairman Ted van Heemst's Lynward Park Stud bought Dubai Excellence from Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation and he will stand at Evergreen Lodge, Myalup in WA, alongside the successful Zedrich.

Bloodstock agent John Chalmers, who negotiated the purchase, described Dubai Excellence as: "A magnificent individual with untouched racing ability representing a pedigree equal to or better than any ever imported into WA."

Dubai Millennium's only crop raced as 2-year olds in the Northern Hemisphere in 2004 and he was the top-rated first season sire in Britain and Ireland from a winners-to-runners ratio with 10 individual winners from 18 runners, including the unbeaten Dubawi (Irish National Stakes, group I), the pre-post favorite for this year's English Derby (Eng-I). Dubai Millennium also had 21 runners and 11 individual winners in France.

Dubai Excellence won his eagerly-awaited 2-year-old debut over seven furlongs in a prestigious race at Chepstow. He was then sent to winter in Dubai in preparation for the English Classics but suffered a tendon injury in training and despite several attempts was unable to race again.