Local Legends: Once In A Millennium
Even the most ardent racing fan could be forgiven for not recalling the 1998 South Norfolk Caterers Maiden Stakes held at Great Yarmouth. When we mention it was the debut of the great Dubai Millennium, that may help to jog the memory—failing that a replay of the race can be found here.
Sent off the 4/9 favourite under Frankie Dettori, Dubai Millennium carried the weight of the ardent Norfolk racegoers’ buck and those of his owners, Godolphin. It is said that Sheikh Mohammed personally intervened to rename the colt Dubai Millennium given his prowess as a foal who showed all the hallmarks of a potential flag bearer and the pick of his generation.
After commentator Derek Thompson posed the question “let’s see how good this horse is” as they passed the furlong pole, Dubai Millennium responded with aplomb and quickly put six lengths between himself and the field. In a subsequent interview with RacingTV, ‘Thommo’ stated: “I remember when he made his debut at Yarmouth. You commentate on hundreds of races in a year, but then you see something in a race and you think, ‘that was special’ – he certainly made that impression on me.”
Dubai Millennium entered the world on 20th March 1996 at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket. In total he would win nine of his 10 starts, five of them at group one level, before bowing out in style with a victory at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Perhaps befitting of his name, Dubai Millennium was a genuine globe trotter with wins in France and UAE following his stunning debut success on the Norfolk Coast.
Dubai, 27.03.2000 – Dubai Millennium with Frankie Dettori up wins the Dubai World Cup 2000. Photo FRANK SORGE/Racingfotos.com
A near-perfect race record was cruelly cut short by injury on the gallops, however Dubai Millennium would continue to influence British racing through his prowess as a stallion. In his first (and only) covering season, Dubai Millennium successful sired 56 foals which included the great Dubawi, a subsequent Classic winner and one of the world’s great stallions—Dubawi’s progeny have amassed almost 700 winners and are nearing £40,000,000 in prize money.
Barnaby Webb, Marketing Manager for Darley’s Stallions, will never forget the impact of Dubai Millennium on his own organisation and on British racing. “Dubai Millennium truly was one of the greatest of all time and was soon identified as a very promising juvenile” explains Webb. “The rest, as they say is history! Dubai Millennium went on to win the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, the G1 QEII, the G1 Prince Of Wales’s and perhaps most famously of all, the G1 Dubai World Cup in 2000 – the race for which he was named.
“While his own stud career was cut tragically short, his legacy now lives on through Dubawi – the most successful stallion in the world and a fitting tribute to his outstanding sire.”
The next time someone mentions Great Yarmouth’s South Norfolk Caterers Maiden Stakes, you can recall the achievements of the legendary Dubai Millennium—born in Newmarket, propelled to glory at Great Yarmouth and cemented the world over as a true racing great.
