GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Aug. 26, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is saddened to report that Hi Dubai, 24, a stakes winning sister to Fantastic Light, was euthanized in her paddock on Friday, Aug. 24, 2024, with her best equine friend, Gold Round, standing vigil over her the entire time.
A cause of death is not known at this time. A necropsy is pending.
The beautiful chestnut mare had been at Old Friends since Sept. 2020, thanks to LNJ Foxwoods, which is owned by Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth.
Upon hearing of the death of Hi Dubai, the Roth Family said, “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Hi Dubai. She was a lovely stakes winning daughter of Rahy, from the female family of Kamar, and full sister to Champion Fantastic Light. She will be missed.”
John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends, said of the mares passing, “Hi Dubai was one of our truly international residents here at Old Friends. Although she was a world traveler, we loved her best because of her uncommonly sweet disposition. She was the kind leader of the mares in the LNJ Paddock. We will miss her.”
Bred by Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd, Hi Dubai, who was by Rahy–Jood, by Nijinsky II, was foaled in Great Britain on Feb. 6, 2000.
Hi Dubai had a short two-year, six-race career that began with five races in Europe. She was trained her entire career by Saeed bin Suroor for owner Godolphin, LLC.
She began her racing career in 2002 as a 2-year old and only ran once. It came in a maiden weight for age race in Newmarket on Aug. 3, and she finished second.
She returned to the track in 2003 as a 3-year old and broke her maiden in her very first start that year. The win came in the R. L. Davison Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on May 4, her first and only stakes victory.
She followed that with a second in the Prix Saint-Alary (G1) at Longchamp on May 18, a fifth in the Vodafone Epsom Oaks (G1) at Epsom on June 6, and a fourth in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood on Aug. 2.
She was then shipped to North America where she finished third in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine on Oct. 19 with jockey Frankie Dettori riding. This would be the final race of her career. She retired with a record of one win, two seconds, one third, and $187,465 in earnings in six starts.
Following her racing career she began a breeding career in both Great Britain and America. She foaled 11 crops between 2005-2020. Some of her top progeny were:
- Zip Driver (Fr): Foaled 2016. Sire: City Zip. Raced three times, one win, $34,256;
- Ours Again: Foaled 2014. Sire: Medaglia D’Oro. Raced 16 times, two wins, two seconds, two thirds, $33,005; and
- Film: Foaled 2020. Sire: Oscar Performance. Raced four times, one second, one third, $17,714.
Hi Dubai was later purchased by Solis and Litt of Solis/Litt Bloodstock for LNJ Foxwoods, which is owned by the Roth family, Larry, Nanci, and Jaime, for $320,000. It is where the mare finished her breeding career.
In Sept. 2020, an agreement was made between Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends, and LNJ Foxwoods. The agreement came about when LNJ approached Blowen with the idea of retiring some of their mares to Old Friends, and in return LNJ would build a paddock on the farm for them and donate a stipend to support them.
The first two mares they sent to Old Friends were Mystery Trip and Gold Round, a half-sister to Goldikova (Fr), with Hi Dubai arriving shortly afterwards to enjoy her retirement.
