Walsh Hopes Plus Que Parfait Reverses Form in UAE Derby

With Dubai-based owners Imperial Racing, a trip to Meydan for the 2019 UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) was something trainer Brendan Walsh had in the back of his mind ever since Plus Que Parfait scored his maiden win Oct. 7 at Keeneland.

And while he contended a pair of stakes starts this year at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Plus Que Parfait came up short compared to his juvenile season, when he finished a close second to Signalman in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and defeated eventual graded stakes winners Harvey Wallbanger and Cutting Humor in his maiden win. The promise of that 2-year-old campaign and some possible excuses for this season's efforts have kept Walsh enthusiastic about the son of Point of Entry .

Plus Que Parfait started 2019 with a fifth-place finish in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) before finishing 13th in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). Walsh knew Plus Que Parfait would need the first race, and though he doesn't have much of an explanation for the dull Risen Star effort, he has seen horses who just don't like the Fair Grounds surface. 

Walsh thinks there may be something to the latter theory, because after moving Plus Que Parfait to Palm Meadows Training Center, he has delivered three nice works this month.

Walsh thinks the trip to the desert may be a good fit for his sophomore runner.

"Things went a little off kilter at the Fair Grounds this winter, so we thought why not bring him here," Walsh said. "He's the type of horse you would bring here. He has the temperament to handle travel, he's done really well. We're excited."

Should Plus Que Parfait deliver a top finish in the UAE Derby—a Road to the Kentucky Derby series race that awards qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to the top four finishers on a scale of 100-40-20-10—Walsh said the Louisville classic would be on the table. Plus Que Parfait has four points from his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Walsh worked for several years with Godolphin Racing, including a stint in Dubai. He's enjoyed his return, noting the amazing expansion in the area during the years he's been gone.

"I always wanted to come back with a (good) horse if I was going to come back," Walsh said. "It's been a long time since I've been here. To come back with a (good) horse, it's kind of come full circle because I was around so many good horses when I was in Godolphin. It's always been a very high standard here, so I wanted to come back with a horse that would have a chance to come out and win. It's a dream come true to come back here."

Other United States-trained runners in the UAE Derby include Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Wachtel Stable's Gray Magician for trainer Peter Miller and McShane Racing's Stubbins for trainer Doug O'Neill.

Gray Magician, a son of Graydar , finished fourth in the Sham Stakes (G3) to start the year and earned a stakes placing in his most recent start Feb. 16, a runner-up finish in the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park.

Stubbins, by Morning Line, has won all three of his 2019 starts and enters off an eight-length romp in the March 2 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita Park.