Jeff Mullins, who began working Big City Man in early June at his Hollywood Park stable, reported via phone interview Tuesday, that the son of Northern Afleet completed his Sunday breeze in good order, finishing six furlongs in 1:13.40.

“We had one more string go out after him and when I got back to the barn, I was told he started showing some signs of colic.  We treated him immediately and he showed no signs of improvement,” said Mullins, well-rooted in the Southern California racing community, and starter of six runners in Dubai, recording placings from Captain Squire (3rd) in the 2003 Dubai Golden Shaheen and Choctaw Nation (3rd) in the 2005 Dubai World Cup (G1). 

“He didn’t respond to the treatment and we sent him to an emergency clinic.  They opened him up to find a strangulated cecum,” Mullins said.  “The cecum was dead.”  Located in the large intestine, the cecum is a crucial element in digestion, processing undigested feed which is large enough to hold upwards of ten gallons of water, according to an equine anatomical survey from TheHorse.com. 

Big City Man (right, white blaze), with Jose Verenzuela up, wins the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3)
Photo courtesy Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club

Big City Man won three races in Dubai this year, capped by the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, defeating Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing and Diabolical.  Bred in Florida by the Four Horsemen’s Ranch, he finished his career with six wins and two seconds from eight lifetime starts with earnings in excess of $1.5 million.

Big City Man was exported to the United States in the care of California-based trainer Jeff Mullins.  The son of Northern Afleet was reported to have collapsed following a workout as he started prepping for the Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) at Del Mar on August 8.  In the last five weeks, Big City Man recorded five published workouts, including a six furlong effort on Sunday where he was clocked in 1:13.40 over the Cushion Track of Hollywood. 

The 4-year-old colt began his career in the United States with several impressive juvenile performances at Calder after which he was privately purchased by Prince Sultan.  Following a win during the Winter Racing Challenge at Nad Al Sheba, he followed that with wins in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) during the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the prestigious Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup night. 

Video of the 2009 Dubai Golden Shaheen:

More news is likely over the coming days, most likely from the Daily Racing Form.  DubaiRaceNight.com will post links when available.