Arc winner Danedream retired, to be bred to Frankel

Danedream, who won the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in record time but missed a repeat bid in October after contacting equine infectious anemia, has been retired by owner Teruya Yoshida.

The German-bred 4-year-old Lomitas filly is still in quarantine due to her condition, but trainer Peter Schiergen confirmed on Friday that she would not race again and depart Germany once the quarantine is lifted. Tentative plans call for Danedream to be shipped to England in January, where she will board at Newsells Park Stud before being bred to two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel. Danedream will then ship to Japan.

“Teruya Yoshida’s decision is sad for us, but I can certainly appreciate it from the breeder’s point of view,” Schiergen told the Galopp-Online website. “We are extremely grateful for all of the wonderful experiences that Danedream has given us. She has been a great advertisement for German racing. She will never be forgotten.”

Yoshida purchased a half-interest in Danedream from Gestut Burg Eberstein two days before the 2011 Arc. The filly, already a Group 1 winner in Germany, romped by five lengths at Longchamp in a time of 2:24.49, besting Peintre Celebre’s mark of 2:24.60 set in 1997.

Based on wins in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last summer at Ascot and a repeat win in the Grosser-Preis von Baden in September, Danedream was a leading candidate to repeat in the 2012 Arc. However, the filly contacted equine infectious anemia, a highly contagious viral infection commonly known as swamp fever, a week before the race and started a 90-day quarantine at her training facility in Cologne. She is expected to clear quarantine in early January.

According to the Galopp-Online report, the ownership agreement between Yoshida and Gestut Burg Eberstein calls for Yoshida to fully own Danedream upon her retirement. Danedream concludes her career with a record of eight wins from 17 starts and $5,044,792. She won five Group 1 stakes.

Danedream is out of the Danehill mare Danedrop, Germany’s broodmare of the year in 2011, and is from the family of French champion filly Indian Rose and Group 1 winners Vert Amande and Le Nain Jaune.

Danedream joins a stellar cast of international mares scheduled to be bred to Juddmonte’s Frankel next year at Banstead Manor Stud, including Oatsee, Zagora, Vodka, Midday, and Stacelita.