Pride of Dubai Wins Blue Diamond Thriller
Description:
Pride of Dubai overcame a stretch tussle before getting clear and just held off 100-1 shot Reemah in the Aus$1 million William Hill Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-I) Feb. 28 at Caulfield Racecourse.
The second choice in the field of 14 2-year-olds, Pride of Dubai won by head from Reemah, while covering 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1:10.53 on turf rated as good.
Lake Geneva was 1 3/4 lengths back in third to complete an all-maiden trifecta. Favored Fontiton checked in fifth to suffer her first loss in four career starts. The favorite lacked the necessary closing kick after hampering the winner in the stretch.
By deceased sire Street Cry, Pride of Dubai was denied a nose when second to Of The Brave in a division Blue Diamond Prelude (Aus-III) Feb. 14 at Caulfield, after finishing third in his career debut Dec. 20 at Rosehill Gardens. He came into Saturday's race looming the main danger to unbeaten filly Fontiton, winner of the group II edition of the Blue Diamond Prelude, also Feb. 14, by a convincing 1 3/4 lengths.
After a brief scuffle with Fontiton in midstretch in the main event Saturday, Pride of Dubai got clear in the final 100 meters and won a thrilling late scrap with Reemah.
"I lost all my momentum when the buffeting started," winning rider Damian Browne said after the race. "(Pride of Dubai is) a big, strong horse, so it just took little bit to get going again, but he was strong through the line."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum bred and races Pride Of Dubai, who is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden. An Australian-bred bay colt from the family of group I-winning sprinter and prominent sire Invincible Spirit, he is out of Australian stakes-placed Al Anood, by Danehill.