The mystery over the stallion mistakenly sent from the United Kingdom to
Australia as Dubai Excellence (Highest Honor [GB]) has been solved. AAP Racing
reports that the Australian Stud Book has identified the sire in question as
SAMOOD (Caerleon), an unplaced half-brother to English highweight Cape Cross
(Ire).
The controversy began when Evergreen Lodge in Western Australia purchased
Dubai Excellence — a half-brother to champion Dubai Millennium — from Darley
for a reported A$400,000 to stand at stud. Upon his arrival from England,
however, DNA testing proved the horse was not Dubai Excellence. The Australian
Equine Genetics Research Centre later confirmed that the mystery stallion was
Samood, an eight-year-old horse out of Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora), champion
juvenile filly in England and Ireland in 1984.
“It seems that the mix-up occurred when both stallions shared a paddock near
Newmarket in England,” Michael Ford, Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, told
AAP Racing. “The wrong stallion left for Europe instead of going into quarantine
for his trip to Australia.”
With a total of 80 mares booked to Dubai Excellence this year, the mystery
could have proved a costly embarrassment for Australian breeding.
“The role of the Australian Stud Book is to ensure the integrity of
Thoroughbred breeding in Australia,” Ford added. “We have succeeded in
preventing the ‘mystery’ stallion from covering mares and producing foals.
Breeders can be confident in our systems and the processes of the Australian
Equine Genetics Research Centre.”