Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya has run her last race after suffering a cracked cannonbone during the closing stages of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this month.
The Aga Khan's daughter of Azamour, who had the Japan Cup on her agenda, was eased down by Christophe Soumillon after losing her action when caught between Free Eagle and Erupt during the closing stages, and finished 13th.
"It's not a bad break, but it is a hairline crack to the cannonbone, which was caused during the race so, she won't be going to Japan, she will be off to stud once the treatment is done.
"It happened when two horses came together in front of her. It was obvious there was a problem because her leg was very swollen after the race. It is why Christophe didn't ask more of her in the closing stages, he could feel something was wrong."
Late developer
Dolniya did not run at two and, having broken her maiden at the second time of asking in the May of her three-year-old career, was not initially considered to be of the same calibre as stablemates Shamkala and Vazira in the first part of 2014.
But after easing to success when stepped up to 1m4f in the Prix de Malleret at the end of June, she developed into the stable's leading three-year-old over middle distances, running a fine race to be third in the Prix Vermeille before an excellent fifth in the Arc.
A long-striding filly who was always considered at her best on good ground, she was aimed at Dubai's glittering World Cup card, where she reversed Arc form with Flintshire to score by two and a quarter lengths.
That proved to be her finest hour. After Royer-Dupre was forced to skip the Prix Ganay on heavy ground when declaring her to be "in the form of her life," Dolniya was not quite at her best in either the Coronation Cup or the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Connections had accepted an invitation to run in the Japan Cup but Dolniya will now join the Aga's blue-chip band of broodmares, as she is out of a sister to multiple Group 1 winners Dalakhani and Daylami.
