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| Staff Writer |
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Dubai Millennium, the brilliant winner of the 2000 Dubai World Cup, has secured his place among the pantheon of racing legends by being inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained superstar, who won nine of his ten career starts, edged out stiff competition from fellow Godolphin luminary Daylami, Aidan O'Brien's iron horse Giant's Causeway, and John Hammond's sublime Montjeu in a public vote.
Dubai Millennium's versatility was on full display throughout his career, with the son of Seeking The Gold excelling on both dirt and turf surfaces. His sole defeat came in the 1999 Gr.1 Epsom Derby when the mile and a half trip proved beyond his stamina limits.
The highlight of Dubai Millennium's career came in the 2000 Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba, where he demolished his rivals by six lengths in a track record time. This performance cemented his status as one of the all-time greats of the sport.
Other notable victories included the Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and a scintillating eight-length romp in the Gr.1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in his final racecourse appearance.
Dubai Millennium's impact on the sport extended beyond his racing career. Despite his untimely death after just one season at stud, he sired the influential Dubawi, who has gone on to become one of the world's leading stallions.
Hugh Anderson, Managing Director (UK and Dubai) of Godolphin, commented: "Amongst many other outstanding contenders, Dubai Millennium occupies the unique position of being said to be His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's favourite racehorse.
"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.
"23 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."
In being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Dubai Millennium joins an elite group of equine superstars including Frankel, Brigadier Gerard, and Nijinsky. The Hall of Fame, which was established to immortalise the Modern Greats of British Flat racing from 1970 onwards, recognises both human and equine champions.
Saeed bin Suroor, who guided Dubai Millennium throughout his racing career, expressed his delight at the horse's induction: "All those four horses on the shortlist were superstars, everybody would know them worldwide, not just in the UK.
"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.
"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."
The trainer added: "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."
Dubai Millennium's connections at Godolphin will receive a specially commissioned medal to mark the induction, which will be presented on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 19 October.
Previous winners of the Dubai World Cup have gone on to achieve further success, with California Chrome winning the 2016 edition before claiming the US$6 million Breeders' Cup Classic later that year. Arrogate, victor in 2017, had already captured the Breeders' Cup Classic and would go on to land the US$10 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
As racing fans and professionals alike celebrate Dubai Millennium's induction into the Hall of Fame, his legacy as one of the sport's true greats continues to inspire and influence the world of horseracing.