Leading Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman has been booked to partner Pride Of Dubai in the 2015 Sires Produce Stakes at Royal Randwick next Saturday.
Pride Of Dubai (inside) will have the chance to record a second win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Sires Produce Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Pride Of Dubai was partnered by Bowman when he made his racing debut with a third place finish behind Ottoman and Miss Idyllic in the Place Multi Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 20, but Brisbane-based jockey Damian Browne took the ride on the Street Cry colt when he finished second behind Of The Brave in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14 and took out the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the same venue a fortnight late.
Browne was confident that he would retain the ride on Pride Of Dubai and felt that the two-year-old was an excellent chance in the Sires Produce Stakes, but Team Snowden revealed this morning that Bowman would take the ride in the Group 1 event after he partnered the juvenile in a barrier trial over 793 meters at Warwick Farm yesterday.
Pride Of Dubai jumped from the barriers fairly and he was settled in fourth position on the outside in the early stages of the trial.
Bowman asked Pride Of Dubai for an extra effort at the 200 metres mark and the Blue Diamond Stakes responded well to hit the line strongly and finish second behind Crystal Beat.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden told that he was happy with the barrier trial performance of Pride Of Dubai and he is confident that the talented colt has taken no harm from his tough victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
“I am very happy with him,” Snowden said.
“Nothing has changed, he still has the great attitude that he had when he won the Diamond.”
Pride Of Dubai is currently available at 2015 Sires Produce Stakes odds of $4.80 and is a clear favourite from Mick Price-trained Ready For Victory ($6.50), Golden Slipper runner-up English ($8), the consistent Lake Geneva ($8) and the undefeated Pasadena Girl ($9).
Bowman is chasing his first win in the Sires Produce Stakes after previously finishing second with Tickets in 2009, Samantha Miss in 2008 and Meurice in 2007, while Team Snowden have won the race with Helmet in 2011 and Guelph in 2013.
