Grade 1 Winner Sibelius Retired

Sibelius , the gutsy winner of the 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), has been retired from racing. Trainer Jerry O'Dwyer told BloodHorse that the Not This Time   gelding suffered a tendon injury during a routine gallop last week at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla.

"The owners made the decision right away to retire him instead of trying to bring him back," O'Dwyer said. "They want to do right by him. At this stage, he's like a part of the family and no chances will be taken with him. He'll be in rehab for seven to eight months and then have a second career, maybe go to the Thoroughbred Makeover and excel at something like that.

"He's retired from racing but he's going to be in our lives for a long time."

Jointly owned by Delia Nash and Jun Park, Sibelius made his last start when finishing sixth in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes at Laurel Park July 28. O'Dwyer said Sibelius left his barn a few days ago and is residing at Nash's farm in Lexington. The gelding has been undergoing PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections to the tendon to accelerate his recovery.

Sibelius retires at the age of 6 with a record of nine wins in 27 starts and earnings of $1,803,011. A sprinting specialist, his finest effort came in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, where he defeated a top-shelf field of international rivals under Ryan Moore. Among the gelding's other accomplishments were back-to-back victories in both the Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. He also captured the Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in 2022.

Although he returned to Dubai this year to defend his title in the Golden Shaheen, he could no better than 11th.

"What he's done for my life and me and my career, and what Delia and Jun have done for my life and career, is unbelievable," O'Dwyer said. "The memories we made with that horse, the people we've met, and the journey he's taken us on. He gave me my first Saratoga win, my first grade 1 win, and he's helped me pick up clients. Every trainer dreams of having horses like him."