A sturdy front-runner, Desert War could stretch the best of them on his day

Desert War, foaled in October 2000 was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse gelding that won six Group one (G1) races including the Epsom Handicap (twice), Chipping Norton Stakes, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Ranvet Stakes. Desert War was a 4th generation Gooree Park Stud home-bred gelding who was the perfect example of a Gooree Park bred and raised champion - he was tough with a big heart, and loved racing. 

He was a big brown gelding weighing over 600 kg, that has a star and a white sock on his near hind leg. He was sired by Desert King who won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2000 Guineas and was the sire of thirteen stakes winners with 34 stakes wins including Makybe Diva (GB). Desert War’s dam was High Heels (by Canny Lad) who is the dam of nine named horses, but Desert War is her only stakes winner.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, he was a multiple group winner in Sydney and Melbourne. His greatest achievement was winning consecutive Epsom Handicaps in 2004 and 2005, before finishing a close second to Sydney horse Racing to Win in the 2006 edition of the race.

On the track, The War Horse, or Dessie, as he was affectionately known at the stables, captured the hearts of Australian racegoers with his bold front running "catch me if you can" tactics.  He would roll along at a very high cruising speed and more often than not, prove very hard to get past. In front of a huge 41,037 crowd, showing what a genuine Group I horse he is, Desert War won back-to-back $600,000, Epsom Handicaps at Randwick with an outstanding performance in the historic mile race.

His final race was the 2008 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, before he retired. During his racing career he had 45 starts for 12 wins, 2 seconds and 9 thirds for $3,046,610

His years in retirement were spent at Gooree Park Stud.  He was a favourite and much sought after part of the “Gooree Wine Tour” as thousands of visitors booked in to visit the old War Horse and have their chance to get up close for a photo and to give him carrots and pears. He passed away in June 2022 at the age of 22.

RACE RECORD - 45: 12-2-9

EARNINGS - $3,046,610

2004/2005 G1 Epsom Hcp

2006 G1 Chipping Norton Stks

2006 G1 Mackinnon Stks

2007 G1 Ranvet Stks

2007 G1 Queen Elizabeth Stks