Sean “Woer-woer Masjien” Singleton” and Neil Patrick Smith have been “living a dream” with their stalwart stayer Hermoso Mundo and are grabbing “a once in a lifetime opportunity” with both hands and sending the gelding to race in Dubai.

The other part-owners of the six-year-old Ideal World gelding are NC Smith, GD Cahn, G Morris and W Volschenk.

Current trainer Weiho Marwing will hand over the reins to Mike de Kock but the former will be on hand for consultation and will remain very much involved.

Hermoso Mundo’s chief target will be the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup run over 3200m on turf at the World Cup meeting on March 30, 2019, at Meydan racecourse.

The prize money for this race has been raised to US$ 1.5 million for its 2019 renewal.

Hermoso Mundo made history in the 2016/2017 season when landing the unofficial stayer’s triple crown, winning the Gold Bowl, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup, and he was duly crowned Equus Champion Stayer.

Singleton’s colourful victory war cry, which ends with the words “jou woer-woer-woer masjien!” became a much-looked forward to aside during last year’s SA Champions Season. Furthermore, the story of Smith, his opponent and an umpire huddled together on a tennis court in Germany watching the Gold Vase on a laptop, after the former had requested a break in play in a tennis tournament match, was one of the most heart-warming tales of the season.

Hermoso Mundo was a gallant runner up nine days ago in the defence of his Gold Cup crown.

“It was heartbreaking to come second after he had come from so far back,” reflected Singleton and Smith, “but It’s My Turn was a deserving winner. Based on that run we have decided to send him overseas. He is an out and out stayer and there is nothing really for him here. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to do it. We believe he will do very well there and Mike thinks he will do ok. We are very happy to be going with Mike as he is an absolute champion trainer. It’s very exciting. He is by Ideal World so can still run for a few years and can race in other countries. If he does well we can expand and wouldn’t mind going to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. There are lot of other races for him in Australia too. There are some beautiful turf tracks with long straights overseas. Whatever happens we are going to have some fun. It’s a dream.”

Hermoso Mundo was on his way to Cape Town last Thursday. The Kenilworth quarantine station is the first leg of an arduous five month journey to Dubai, which goes via Mauritius and Europe.

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