1995 Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus passed away yesterday after injuring his near side hoof in a paddock accident at the Living Legends Facility for retired champion racehorses.
Damien Oliver steered Doriemus to victory in the 1995 edition of the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Doriemus was taken to the Melbourne University Equine Hospital after he aggravated an existing injury to his hoof, but veterinarians were unable to save the 24-year-old and he was humanely euthanized.
OTI Racing founder Terry Henderson was a member of the syndicate that purchased Doriemus from New Zealand to race in Australia in 1994 and he expressed his sadness about the news on Twitter yesterday afternoon.
“Very saddened by death of Doriemus as result of hoof injury,” Henderson said.
“An exceptional horse who gave many enjoyment while racing and in retirement.
“At 24 Doriemus had a wonderful life in retirement thanks to Living Legends, Wingara Farm and Weeribee Vet Hospital.”
Doriemus made his racing debut in New Zealand under the care of Jim Gibbs and he recorded two impressive wins from his first three starts, which garnered the interest of John Devlin who sent a video of the gelding to Lee Freedman’s Racing Manager Danny Power; with Freedman quickly organizing a group of clients to buy 50% of the three-year-old after Henderson had already purchased 50%.
The son of Norman Pentaquad made his Australian racing debut with a win at Doomben in May of 1994 and he took out a race at Caulfield during the 1994 Spring Racing Carnival before he made his black type debut with a win in the Grey Smith Stakes (now run on Melbourne Cup Day as the Visit Victoria Plate).
After finishing third in the Group 2 Sandown Cup (2400m), Doriemus was set for the 1995 edition of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and he produced credible performances in his lead-up runs in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) before he stamped himself as a genuine contender when he finished second behind All Our Mob in the Group 2 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
Doriemus carried 52 kilograms in the Caulfield Cup with Damien Oliver in the saddle and he stormed home in the final furlong to record a tough win from Count Chivas and Beaux Art.
The talented stayer was handed a two and a half kilogram penalty for the 1995 Melbourne Cup, but the extra weight did not prove to be an issue and he slogged his way through the wet Flemington track to record an impressive win from Victoria Derby winner Nothin Leica’ Dane and 1993 Melbourne Cup winner Vintage Crop.
Doriemus added a third Group 1 win to his racing resume when he took out the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the 1996 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he was far from disgraced when fourth in the 1996 edition of the Caulfield Cup and sixth behind Saintly in the Melbourne Cup.
He was unable to record another race win during his racing career, but he finished an extremely close second behind Might And Power in the 1997 edition of the Melbourne Cup and was also placed in the 1997 Caulfield Cup, Group 1998 Group 1 Mercedes Classic (2400m), 1998 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and 1998 Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2600m).
Doriemus was retired after finishing 19th behind Jezabeel in the 1998 edition of the Melbourne Cup and spent his retirement alongside the likes of fellow Melbourne Cup winners Might And Power and Brew at Living Legends.
