2001: Two-year-old season The colt raced once at age two, finishing second in a 2001 maiden stakes at
Newmarket Racecourse in England.
2002: Three-year-old season In 2002, Moon Ballad began the year racing at
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in his owner's native
Dubai. He won his first outing then finished fourth to
Essence of Dubai in the 2002
UAE Derby. Back in England his race-riding duties were taken over by jockey
Jamie Spencer. In May they ran second in a
Listed stakes race at Newmarket then won the G-2
Dante Stakes at
York Racecourse before finishing third to
High Chaparral in June's
Epsom Derby. In September, Moon Ballad won the G-3
Select Stakes and in October ran second in the G-1
Champion Stakes.
2003: Four-year-old season In February 2003,
Frankie Dettori rode the four-year-old to victory in the
Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 at
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in his owner's native
Dubai. Six weeks later at the same racecourse, Dettori and Moon Ballad won the world's richest horse race, capturing the
US$6 million
Dubai World Cup by 5 lengths. Returning to England, at
Ascot Racecourse he ran ninth in the
Prince of Wales's Stakes and was fifth in the
Sussex Stakes at
Goodwood Racecourse. Racing in the early fall at
Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland, the colt ran fifth to High Chaparral in the
Irish Champion Stakes. He was then sent to the United States to compete in the
Jockey Club Gold Cup at
New York's Belmont Park. Under
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey
Jerry Bailey, Moon Ballad finished fifth and last to winner
Mineshaft. ==Stud career==