Dunaden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunaden |
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Dunaden won 2011 Hong Kong Vase
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| Sire | Nicobar |
| Dam | La Marlia |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 26 February 2006 |
| Died | 30 April 2019 (aged 13) |
| Country | France |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Comte E Decazes |
| Owner | Pearl Bloodstock Pty |
| Trainer | Richard Gibson Mikel Delzangles |
| Record | 46: 10–11–8 |
| Earnings | £5,271,584 |
| Major wins | |
| Prix de Barbeville (2011) Geelong Cup (2011) Melbourne Cup (2011) Hong Kong Vase (2011) Caulfield Cup (2012) |
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| Awards | |
| Australian Champion Stayer (2011/12) | |
Dunaden (born February 26, 2006 – died April 30, 2019) was a famous Thoroughbred racehorse from France. He is best known for winning the exciting 2011 Melbourne Cup race. His jockey was Christophe Lemaire, and his trainer was Mikel Delzangles. Dunaden was owned by Sheikh Fahad al Thani. He made history by being the first horse to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Vase in the same year!
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Dunaden's Early Life and Career
Dunaden was bought for a small amount, €1,500, when he was just a foal in France in 2006. A Dutch owner named Jetty van der Hulst bought him. He grew up at her horse farm in Nederweert, The Netherlands. When he was three years old, he was claimed from her stable after winning a race in France.
Becoming a Champion Racehorse
Dunaden started showing his amazing talent in 2011. He won the Prix de Barbeville race and came second in another big race, the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. To get ready for the famous Melbourne Cup in Australia, he first won the Geelong Cup.
The Thrilling Melbourne Cup Win
In the 2011 Melbourne Cup, Dunaden started slowly. But he made a powerful run down the middle of the track. He finished right next to another horse, Red Cadeaux. It was the closest finish ever in the Melbourne Cup, with Dunaden winning by just a few centimeters! A few weeks later, he also won the important Hong Kong Vase race. Red Cadeaux finished third in that race.
More Big Wins in Australia
On October 20, 2012, Dunaden kept his winning streak going in Australia. He won the Caulfield Cup race with an amazing ride from jockey Craig Williams. This win was special because Dunaden was the first horse to win the Caulfield Cup starting from a very wide position (barrier 18). He was also the first horse to win it while carrying the highest weight (58 kg) given to any horse in the race.
Dunaden's Retirement
Dunaden retired from racing in 2014. He went to live at Overbury Stud in England. He became a stallion, which means he was used for breeding. His first baby horses, called progeny, started racing in 2018. Sadly, Dunaden passed away on May 1, 2019, due to an accident in his paddock.
Images for kids
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Dunaden: 2011 Melbourne Cup winner, painted by Charles Church
