A decision on a start in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 18 for Inglis Sires winner Pride Of Dubai will be made later in the week.
Inglis Sires winner Pride Of Dubai is likely to go on to run in The Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Co-trainer trainer Peter Snowden told RSN Radio this morning that Pride Of Dubai would probably have the stamina to run 1600m but will wait until he sees how the Street Cry colt pulls up after winning the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires (1400m) at Randwick on Monday on the first day of ‘The Championships‘ that was postponed from Saturday because of the soaking Sydney has received during the week.
Pride Of Dubai collected his second Group 1 win for Peter and Paul Snowden after he took out the $1m Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 28.
The Snowden decided to miss the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 and concentrate on preparing Pride Of Dubai for the 1400m of the Sires and all going well will step him up to the 1600m of the Champagne Stakes.
“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,” Paul Snowden said after the Inglis Sries win.
Pride Of Dubai had a tough run in the Inglis Sires, three wide for most of the journey, and after being headed in the straight by third placegetter Rageese, fought back to score a three quarters of a length win of the fast finishing Odyssey Moon.
Winning rider Hugh Bowman was full of praise for the colt with the way he fought back after looking as though he was beaten.
“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,” Bowman said.
“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.”
Pride Of Dubai’s Inglis Sires win was only his second from four race starts and took his overall prizemoney earnings to over $1.3 million.
