New G1 Filly for Pride of Dubai
An eye-catching run last Saturday for progressive filly Dubai Gold (3f Pride of Dubai x World of Gold, by High Chaparral) when a close second to hot favourite Leica Lucy in the Group I New Zealand Oaks (2400m) is likely to see the blue-blood filly line up for an Australian campaign.
“She has gone super, she was amazing,” said her Matamata based trainer Pam Gerard.
“Leica Lucy had all favours - she drew one, she never left the fence, and I don’t think she went any more than 2400m. We came around them on the corner and gave it a shot. Both of them were out on their feet, it was a good effort.”
Dubai Gold had placed in the Group II Lowland Stakes (2100m) in her last outing, and Gerard said Saturday’s Group I placing further adds to her rich pedigree.
Purchased for $110,0000 from the Lansdowne Park draft at Karaka Book 1 by Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman, Dubai Gold is closely related to Pride of Dubai’s Group I winner Desert Lightning. She is the best of five winners from imported Irish bred High Chaparral mare World of Gold, who comes from the Twyla branch of the Shantha’s Choice family that has also produced Group I winners Tom Kitten, Gathering and In Italian
“Her pedigree is absolutely incredible, it is out of this world,” she said. “It is very current with Tom Kitten (dual Group One winner) performing very well.
“We have always known it is a super pedigree and we always knew she was going to be an Oaks filly, she just had to get her head in the right space and she did it all at the right time.”
Gerard said the daughter of Pride Of Dubai has come through the race well and she will wait a few more days before deciding whether a Sydney autumn or Queensland winter campaign is in the filly’s best interest.
“It was a big trip, so yesterday (Sunday) she had the day out in the paddock, but she has eaten up again last night. She will have a few days in the pool and then we will assess where we are at from there,” she said.
“Fillies at this time of year that can run that far (Oaks distance) are few and far between, so it is definitely something we will assess, but we will give her a few days.
“We have got the Australian Oaks (G1, 2400m) in three weeks if we think we can fly over and get another 2400m race out of her, otherwise there is The Roses (G2, 2100m) and the Queensland Oaks (G1, 2200m) in Brisbane, which is a bit further away.
“There are options there, but we have just got to do the right thing by the horse first and make sure we are 100 percent ready.”