Polar River to Pass on Kentucky Oaks
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Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins
Polar River wins the 2016 UAE Oaks.
UAE Oaks (UAE-III) winner Polar River will likely bypass the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) despite her dazzling record and the 50 points she picked up on the "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" last out, but her connections aren't ruling out a trip to America later in the season.
Trainer Doug Watson told Press Association Sport he very much doubts a May trip to Kentucky is realistic for the 3-year-old filly, who has won her four career starts at Meydan Racecourse by a combined 32 lengths. Polar River will next take on the boys in the UAE Derby (UAE-II) on Dubai World Cup night March 26.
"She will have had five races since the beginning of December and shipping her all the way out there, I think that would be too much for her," Watson said. "Besides, there's a horse running in the Kentucky Oaks, (undefeated champion) Songbird, who looks an absolute freak and we'd find it tough against her.
"It would be a shame if she did well in the Derby to end her year there, though, so I wouldn't rule out taking her to America in June for something like the Acorn Stakes (at Belmont Park)."
Polar River won the UAE Oaks Sponsored by Emirates March 3 by three-quarters of a length when stretching out to nine and a half furlongs for the first time. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Congrats added that score for owners Valentin Bukhtoyarov & Evgeny Kappushev to her victory in the UAE One Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Friday.
She was a $40,000 purchase by Watkins Bloodstock from the Eisaman Equine consignment to the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. Eisaman Equine pinhooked her from the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, where she was a $25,000 buy from Pope McLean's consignment.
She was bred by Bob McCann, Mark Kelder, and Doug Richards out of the Empire Maker mare Bayou Tortuga.
"I think she is a worthy favorite for the (UAE) Derby from what she has done," Watson said. "She loves the track around there and we know she stays fine. We are very high on her and she's definitely the best I've trained."