Talented colt Pride Of Dubai recorded his second straight win at Group 1 level with a tough victory in the 2015 Sires Produce Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Pride Of Dubai confirmed his status as one of the most talented two-year-olds in Australia with a tough win in the 2015 Sires Produce Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Pride Of Dubai was ridden as a backmarker in the first three starts of his racing career, but jockey Hugh Bowman was desperate to settle the two-year-old closer to the speed in the Sires Produce Stakes and he was happy to let the juvenile track up three wide outside Always Allison and English coming around the turn.
The Street Cry colt was headed by Rageese at the 250 metre mark, but Pride Of Dubai was able to fight back in impressive fashion and he ran through the line strongly to complete the Blue Diamond Stakes/Sires Produce Stakes double.
Bowman admitted after the race that not everything went to plan with Pride Of Dubai during the running of the Sires Produce Stakes, but he was quick to pay credit to the quality of the juvenile that he believes will be even better as an older horse.
“I had a lot of confidence in this horse,” Bowman said.
“Tactically things didn’t go all that smoothly for me, but I was able to keep the horse in a nice rhythm throughout and at the top of the straight I could feel the pressure coming and I must admit at the 300 metre mark I didn’t think I had a lot left.
“He reminded me a lot of Hallowed Crown’s recent victories this afternoon, he got inside the 200 metre mark and when I needed him to lift he did.
“Full credit to him, he had to do it the hard way and he is going to be a very excited horse going into the Champagne Stakes.
“Wait until you see him next year as a three-year-old.”
Team Snowden elected to miss the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) with Pride Of Dubai following his Blue Diamond Stakes victory and co-trainer Paul Snowden was clearly delighted that the decision had paid off.
Snowden said that Pride Of Dubai had shown plenty of toughness to get over the line in both the Blue Diamond Stakes and Sires Produce Stakes, while he confirmed that the two-year-old would press on to the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.
“It is enormous and a great thrill,” Snowden said.
“Full credit to the horse, he was four deep most of the race with no cover and he seem to empty out at the furlong, but to fight back late was a credit to the horse.
“I asked Dad if he was happy with that choice (to miss the Golden Slipper) after a few of those went along the wayside leading into the Slipper and he said ‘yes we are going to the Sires’, so I am thankful it has come off.”
The Sires Produce Stakes victory was Team Snowden’s first Group 1 victory in Sydney since they left the Darley operation to train in partnership just under a year ago and their third win at the highest level after they previously took out the Caulfield Guineas with Shooting To Win and the Blue Diamond Stakes with Pride Of Dubai.
