Top stayer off to Dubai

Sean Singleton and Neil Patrick Smith have been “living a dream” with their stalwart stayer Hermoso Mundo and are grabbing a once in a lifetime opportunity with both hands and sending the gelding to race in Dubai.

The other part-owners of the six-year-old Ideal World gelding are NC Smith, GD Cahn, G Morris and W Volschenk.

Current trainer Weiho Marwing will hand over the reins to Mike de Kock but the former will be on hand for consultation and will remain very much involved.

Hermoso Mundo’s chief target will be the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup run over 3200m on turf at the World Cup meeting on 30 March next year at Meydan racecourse.

The prize money for this race has been raised to US$ 1.5 million for its 2019 renewal.

Hermoso Mundo made history in the 2016-2017 season when landing the unofficial stayer’s triple crown, winning the Gold Bowl, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup, and he was duly crowned Equus Champion Stayer.

He was a gallant runner up nine days ago in the defence of his Gold Cup crown. “It was heartbreaking to come second after he had come from so far back,” reflected Singleton and Smith, “but It’s My Turn was a deserving winner. Based on that run we have decided to send him overseas.

“He is an out-and-out stayer and there is nothing really for him here. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to do it. We believe he will do very well there and Mike thinks he will do okay. We are very happy to be going with Mike as he is an absolute champion trainer.

“If he does well we can expand and wouldn’t mind going to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

''There are lot of other races for him in Australia too.

There are some beautiful turf tracks with long straights overseas.

''Whatever happens we are going to have some fun. It’s a dream.” –