Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), winner of last year's G1 Coronation Cup for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, suffered a fatal injury on the Newmarket gallops on Wednesday morning.
The 6-year-old's trainer Roger Varian announced his death via a statement on his website which read, “It is probably not a safe assumption that only those who were closely connected with the horse will be heartbroken that he has left this life. Although not large in stature Defoe had the heart of a lion and his adoring fans from around the world will no doubt join us in mourning his loss and celebrating his achievements.”
Defoe was bred by his owner under the Darley banner and was the first foal of his dam Dulkashe (Ire), a winning daughter of Pivotal (GB). While he won on his debut at two over a mile, Defoe improved with age and distance to snare his Group 1 success as a 5-year-old. He won another six races along the way to Epsom, including the G2 Jockey Club S. and two Group 3 contests. His final victory came at Royal Ascot last season in the G2 Hardwicke S., the race in which he finished third this year on what would prove to be his last racecourse outing.
Varian's statement continued, “It is a great sadness that Defoe's final race came at an eerily empty Royal Ascot where he ran an admirable race to finish third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, a scene that was a world away from those jubilant celebrations with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in the winner's enclosure twelve months previously.
“We can't help but have favourites and Defoe was everyone's favourite horse; from his groom Mark, head girl Dee, regular rider Korrie and to Roger and Hanako's children he was a star, and such was his popularity with them that they had a rocking horse made in his image. A lasting memory for a great horse.”
Andrea Atzeni was on board for seven of Defoe's nine victories and he paid tribute to him from Goodwood. Speaking on Racing TV after his winning ride on Mambo Nights (Ire) for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, he said, “It was very sad news this morning. It is always sad to lose any horse but Defoe is very close to us all and especially to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, who bred him. He gave us many great days and has been very close to my heart. I was actually hoping that one day when he retired I could have looked after him and given him a home in my paddocks but sadly that was not to be.”
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