Godolphin were left reeling after Trading Leather failed to survive a serious fracture sustained in Sunday's Japan Cup, which was won by local runner Epiphaneia and jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Trading Leather was pulled up suddenly by jockey Kevin Manning before the final turn of the 2,400-metre Grade 1 contest and was later euthanised.
The four-year-old colt won the Irish Derby last year, a performance that trainer Jim Bolger described as one of the best of his career.
“Trading Leather was much adored and had a tremendous career,” Bolger said. “His passing is tough for us all, especially my staff. This is a very sad loss.”
Trading Leather was one of three foreign raiders in the $US5.5 million (Dh20.2m) event, with German runner Ivanhowe faring best in sixth place.
Canada’s Up With The Birds was 16th.
Epiphaneia is trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, who struck in the 2011 Dubai World Cup at Meydan with Victoire Pisa, and the trainer was as surprised as anybody his colt prevailed in such a high-class race.
“I don’t think I’d given him enough work,” said a bemused Sumii afterwards.
Epiphaneia was four lengths clear at the line, ahead of Just A Way, the Dubai Duty Free winner ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga,
The Japanese rider is Epiphaneia’s regular rider but he had preferred to ride the highest-rated horse in the world.
Soumillon had ridden Buena Vista to victory in 2010 but the pair were later disqualified.
Winning in front of more than 100,000 people clearly had a big impact on the Belgian rider. “I am a very lucky jockey. This was one of the greatest performances of my career,” he said.
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