Hall of Fame: Dubai Millennium joins racing’s greats

Dubai Millennium is the latest horse to be entered into the Qipco British Champions Series following a public vote.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, he came out on top in a poll that also featured Giant’s Causeway, Montjeu and Daylami.

Originally named Yaazer and with David Loder, Dubai Millennium won nine of his 10 races, with his only defeat coming in the 1999 Derby at Epsom when ninth behind Oath. He went on to win the Prix Jacques le Marois, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Dubai World Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“Amongst many other outstanding contenders, Dubai Millennium occupies the unique position of being said to be His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite racehorse,” said Godolphin’s managing director Hugh Anderson.

“His career and his legacy shaped Godolphin and epitomised the spirit of Dubai. To win the Dubai World Cup, the race he was named for, in such a dominant manner was exceptional, as were his other victories at the very highest level including the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“Twenty-three years later, his presence lives on through his world-leading stallion son Dubawi and his many grandsons that have become such a powerful influence on the breed of the future.”

There will be a ceremony inducting Dubai Millennium on Champions Day at Ascot on October 19.

Saeed bin Suroor hailed Dubai Millennium as a “special” horse on hearing he is the latest to be voted into the Qipco British Champions Series .

Bin Suroor was referring to his ability to run to an incredibly high level on both turf and dirt, something City Of Troy is hoping to emulate later this year.

Originally named Yaazer and with David Loder, Dubai Millennium won nine of his 10 races, with his only defeat coming in the 1999 Derby at Epsom when ninth behind Oath. He went on to win the Prix Jacques le Marois, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Dubai World Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

In seeing off another former Bin Suroor inmate in Daylami, Aidan O’Brien’s teak-tough Giant’s Causeway and John Hammond’s brilliant Montjeu in a public vote, Dubai Millennium joins the likes of Frankel, Brigadier Gerard and Nijinsky in the Hall of Fame.

“All those four horses on the shortlist were superstars, everybody would know them worldwide, not just in the UK,” said Bin Suroor.

“Dubai Millennium was special and the public obviously agree. We took him everywhere, he won a Dubai World Cup, in France and at Royal Ascot.

“He always ran in the top races and always won well. Even in the Dubai World Cup he broke the track record at Nad Al Sheba.

“What he was able to do was unusual, winning on turf and dirt, not many have been able to do it at the highest level since.”

He went on: “Horse racing needs horses like Dubai Millennium. It is 24 years now and no horse has done it since, that is why he was special. We are happy to win this award.

“Coolmore always have good horses, all over the world, America, Europe and Australia. But in 2000, Dubai Millennium was something special.

“He also proved himself as a stallion in just one year, producing Dubawi and he’s now one of the best stallions in the world. It shows how special he was to produce a horse like that from one crop.

“It’s nice he’s been voted for by the public.”