By Ric Chapman with additional reporting

Authorities are conducting DNA testing to determine the identity of a horse shipped to stand in Australia after preliminary tests proved it is not Dubai Excellence. The horse was purchased by Western Australian stud farm Evergreen Lodge and arrived in Australia in February. The breeding season there is set to begin in September.

Dubai Excellence (Highest Honour–Colorado Dancer, by Shareef Dancer) is a half-brother to the ill-fated Dubai Millennium (by Seeking the Gold), who stood just one year before dying of grass sickness.

Evergreen Lodge, owned by Western Australia Turf Club chairman Ted Van Heemst, had sold more than 80 seasons to Dubai Excellence at a fee of A$3,850 (about $3,000). He was purchased for figure reported to be close to A$400,000 (about $300,000), a Racing Post article said.

“He had no markings and no brandings and was pretty much identical to another horse in the yard,” van Heemst told the Racing Post. “I haven’t got the full story yet because we’re still unravelling it