To remember him.....
His final race.....
http://www.attheraces.com/search.asp......star&type=H
A picture.....
http://carnivalblog.dubairacingclub....tent/Tstar.JPG
A press release..... (no author listed)...
DRC and ERA pay tribute to Tropical Star
The Dubai Racing Club and Emirates Racing Authority today paid tribute to one of the stars of UAE racing, Tropical Star, who sadly died yesterday.
The seven-year-old was a mainstay over the last four seasons at Nad Al Sheba, the venue for all 17 of his career starts.
The son of Machiavellian was a dual winner at Group level, and also second to Saratoga County in the 2005 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
His last ever race came in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint on January 25, which he fittingly won in the hands of Royston French, who rode the sprinter on his last eight starts.
Frank Gabriel Jr, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club, said: “Tropical Star was a regular of UAE racing over the seasons, and his scintillating efforts put him on the biggest stage of all – the Dubai World Cup meeting, at which he covered himself with real credit.
“We would like to offer our support to Ali Rashid Al Raihe and his team at Grandstand Stables, and everyone else connected to the horse, past and present, at what must be a very sad time.”
Jockey Ffrench added: “It’s a great loss for everyone involved, for the owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, all the stable staff and for all his fans, of which there were thousands.
“He was a real stable star and it’s left a massive hole. He was such a character and an absolute pleasure to ride, and every time I sat on him was a real highlight. I’m really going to miss the old boy.”
Raced once by Godolphin, when a remote last in a 1,600-metre maiden in February 2003, his aversion to the starting stalls was to cost him victory in his next two starts early the next season.
He had joined Jaci Wickham by then and was fifth and second in 1,600-metre maidens, having missed the break badly both times under Richard Mullen.
Wickham, Mullen and her team, especially assistant trainer Dan Launder, performed a lot of remedial work on his tendency to stay in the gates and were rewarded with a win at Nad Al Sheba in December 2003.
He won again, before a fine second to State Shinto in the Group 3 Maktoum Challenge I in January 2004.
He was then placed in the Round II and the Burj Nahaar, before chasing home Godolphin’s Firebreak in the Godolphin Mile on World Cup night for Wickham’s replacement Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
He went sprinting the following season, culminating in his second in the Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night, before two wins last season and again faring best of the local horses when seventh in the Golden Shaheen.
A disappointing effort in Maktoum Challenge I this year was forgotten after his scintillating last stride victory in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint where he showed all his guts and determination to deny Thajja, having been a long way off the pace.
That performance encapsulated the horse perfectly and, a huge favourite among the local racegoers, he is a big loss to the sport locally.
Fly with the angels.