Dubai: The Dubai Turf (G1), the joint richest turf race in the world with prize money of $6 million (Dh22 million), has regrettably lost a star contender.
Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light, who was the strong ante-post favourite for Saturday’s race, one of the highlights on the $30million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan, has been retired to stud, after injuring a tendon in his last race at Meydan.
The seven-year-old chestnut was bidding to give trainer Saeed Bin Surour a sixth success in a race formerly known as the Dubai Duty Free Stakes,
“Perhaps the timing is not perfect, but Hunter’s Light will be very valuable at stud,” Bin Surour told Gulf News. “He has been a great servant for Godolphin over the years and has nothing more to prove.
“He has scored Group wins in Dubai, Italy, Turkey and the UK, including three at the highest level. He’s a high class horse with a great attitude. Hopefully he can succeed in his new career.”
A statement on the Godolphin website said that Hunter’s Light was retired as there will not be sufficient time for him to recover from an injury he incured when winning the Jebel Hatta (G1) at Super Saturday, on March 7,
“Time has therefore been called on the career of the son of Dubawi, who won three career Group Ones and earned over £910,000 (Dh4,993,900) in prize-money,” the statement said.
“The seven-year-old has won on all three starts in Dubai this winter culminating in a six-and-a-half-length win in the Group One Jebel Hatta on March 7.
“However he sustained a tendon injury in what was ultimately his final appearance, which has not responded to treatment.
“Plans for his future career will be announced in the near future.”
Bin Surour, whose previous wins in the Dubai Turf came with Tamayaz (1997), Annus Mirabilis (1997), Altibir (1999), Rhythm Band (2000) and Sajjhaa (2013), indicated that Hunter’s Light is likely to stand at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud, at Newmarket.
Following Hunter’s Light’s scratching, French raider Solow (7/2) has been promoted to favouritism ahead of British hope The Grey Gatsby (3/1) and US-trained Mshawish (7/1).
Other likely contenders include Cladocera (7/1), Farraaj (8/1), Euro Charline (10), Trade Storm (12), Earnshaw (16), Umgiyo (20) and Limario (25).
The Dubai Turf’s current purse of $6 million is only matched by the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) as the richest turf race in the world.
From 2015, DP World Signed up as sponsor with Meydan Group, and the race was given it’s new name.
