Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}-La Marlia {Fr}, by Kaldounevees {Fr}), winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2011 and the following year's G1 Caulfield Cup, died on Tuesday at Overbury Stud due to complications following a paddock accident.
David Redvers, racing manager for owner Sheikh Fahad, said, “Dunaden was a horse of iron constitution with the most exceptional will to win. He gave Sheikh Fahad some fantastic days and was largely responsible for the wider Qatari family becoming involved in horse racing. He was the most intelligent Thoroughbred I have ever been involved with and we are all incredibly saddened by his death. I would like to thank Simon Sweeting and his team at Overbury Stud for the job they have done with the horse, particularly over the last few days.”
Sheikh Fahad said, “Dunaden was a horse of a lifetime. Winning the Melbourne Cup is a day I will never forget. He was pure class–consistent, strong and incredibly competitive. QIPCO's initial increase in investment in racing is largely down to Dunaden's success. It is a terrible loss.”
Purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock at four, Dunaden would go on to win a pair of handicaps at Longchamp and Lyon Parilly that fall for trainer Richard Gibson, but it was at five for trainer Mikel Delzangles that the chestnut really sprang to life. He won the G3 Prix de Barbeville and shipped to Australia to kick off his winning sequence that saw him take the G3 Geelong Cup before besting Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) by the barest of noses in the first of the latter's three runner-up finishes in the Melbourne Cup. The following spring Dunaden picked up placings in the G2 Jockey Club S., G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and G2 Hardwicke S. before returning to Australia to capture his third Group 1 in the Caulfield Cup, and in 2013 he strung together an excellent campaign without winning, placing in the G1 Prix Ganay, G1 Coronation Cup, G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Hong Kong Vase.
Dunaden was in the midst of his fifth season at Overbury Stud at the time of his death, where he commanded a fee of £3,000. He has thus far left behind five winners, including the dual winner Ranch Hand (GB).
Simon Sweeting, Manager of Overbury Stud, said, “It was a huge honour to have stood Dunaden at Overbury Stud. I was delighted to have been involved with him and am very sad to have lost him so early.”
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