Champion German mare Danedream has been retired and a date with Frankel awaits in the new year.
The winner of the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and this year’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Danedream was denied the chance to defend her Arc crown in Paris due to an outbreak of swamp fever at her Cologne training base.
Connections of the Peter Schiergen-trained four-year-old were initially going to wait until January to make a decision on her racing future, which is when she will be able to come out of quarantine, but Schiergen confirmed her retirement in an interview with the German website Galopp Online.
“(Owner) Teruya Yoshida’s decision is sad for us, but I can certainly appreciate it from the breeder’s point of view,” Schiergen said.
“We are extremely grateful for all the wonderful experiences that Danedream has given us.
“In lifting the Arc and the King George for Germany, two of the most important races in the world, she gave publicity to all of us.
“She has been a great advertisement for German racing.”
Danedream won eight of her 17 races, five at the highest level.
If allowed, Danedream will leave Cologne next month for England to be mated with recently retired champion Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud.
Andrasch Starke rode Danedream to all her major successes and he named the King George as the pick of her victories.
“I’m not sad she is not able to run there because I will always have great memories of her,” Starke told At The Races.
“Definitely her winning the two biggest races in Europe. For a four-year-old filly to beat all the best colts in the King George was a special day and the greatest this year. In my memory that is the biggest.”
