Multiple graded stakes winner Desert Party has been retired from racing and will stand at stud at the Maktoum family’s Darley USA near Lexington.
The son of 2002 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Street Cry (who also stands at Darley) developed a soft tissue injury, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
"This is a horse we felt was headed for grade I success,” said Darley's chief operating officer Olly Tait in a statement. “Physically, he is a fantastic individual and we're very excited to have him join our roster."
Bred in Kentucky by David Smith and Steven Sinatra, Desert Party, made five starts in Dubai and five in the United States. He finished his career with a victory in the Donald Levine Memorial Handicap at Philadelphia Park.
Before that, Desert Party had a 1 1/4-length triumph in the March 3 Derrinstown Stud Elnadim Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-III), which was his first race since finishing unplaced in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) last May. Following the classic, Desert Party was sidelined after undergoing surgery for the removal of a bone chip.
Desert Party boasts three other on-the-board finishes in Dubai, including a score in last year’s Gulf News U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-III) at a mile. He also ran second in the 2009 Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group U.A.E. Derby (UAE-II). Raced throughout his career for Darley, Desert Party retires with a record of 6-1-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $928,467.
After bringing $425,000 as a yearling, Desert Party was bought for $2.1 million by Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock agent John Ferguson at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Florida February 2-year-old sale from Scanlon Training Center, agent. He broke his maiden at first asking at Arlington Park and then won the six-furlong Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga.
A fee will be announced later for Desert Party, who is out of the winning Tabasco Cat mare Sage Cat and is a half brother to stakes winner Elliecat.
