'He's retired as a champion' - Dream Of Dreams' career ended by old ankle injury

Royal Ascot winning sprinter Dream Of Dreams has been retired from racing after failing to recover from an ankle injury sustained following his triumph in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes nearly 12 months ago.

The eight-year-old won nine of his 31 races and nearly £1 million during his career, largely for Sir Michael Stoute and owner Saeed Suhail, but he will not now be enjoying a second career as a stallion as he is a gelding.

Although he was renowned for his exploits with Stoute, including winning the Group 1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup in 2020, Dream Of Dreams started out with Kevin Ryan in 2016 before being bought privately by Suhail after his debut second at Newmarket in April of that year.

The son of Dream Ahead switched to Stoute the following year, for whom he was twice beaten by a head in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, until finally going one better in what was his final outing in the six-furlong contest at year ago.

Bruce Raymond: 'he suffered from various soundness problems in later years'Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Suhail, said: “We had hoped to get Dream Of Dreams back for another crack at Royal Ascot but he’s been retired after his old ankle injury returned. He’s retired as a champion as he only reached his potential in his later years and his last run was his best.

“He was very well handled by Sir Michael Stoute as he suffered from various soundness problems in later years. His win at Royal Ascot last year was tremendous but he was lame after that and missed the rest of the season.

"He was on his way back to have another middle-to-end-of-season campaign this year but has gone wrong again, so we’ve decided to draw stumps. Thankfully, he’s been found a nice home just outside Newmarket where he can live a happy retirement.”

Raymond also revealed useful stayer Nayef Road, owned by Mohamed Obaida for whom Raymond is also racing manager, had left Charlie and Mark Johnston to continue his career in Dubai after his latest effort when last of six in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last month.

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