Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard could be heading back to Australia, following the performance by Dubai Gold (3 f Pride Of Dubai – World Of Gold, by High Chaparral) for second in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last Saturday at Trentham.
Dubai Gold took a timely step towards the Oaks with a dominant victory in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres on 12 February at Te Aroha, and finished strongly for third when given a sterner task in the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) on 2 March at Trentham.
That recital, at the Oaks venue, gave Gerard and the connections confidence to contest the elite staying test for three-year-old fillies and Dubai Gold never missed a beat in the lead-up.
“She travelled down well, staying on the way with Mark Oulaghan at Awapuni, and I was pleased with the condition she was in,” Gerard said.
“Obviously it was never going to be easy with such a dominant ($1.30) filly as Leica Lucy in the field, but I was happy with my filly. We thought she could threaten or possibly win if everything went right.”
Ridden by Michael McNab, who had struck up a good association at her prior three starts, Dubai Gold managed to get in from barrier 11, passing the post with a lap run, settling 11th of 15, while from barrier one, Leica Lucy was comfortably positioned three back on the inner.
From 10th at the 1000m, Dubai Gold improved four-wide nearing the 600m to have an edge on Leica Lucy at the 300m, before the favourite lifted in the manner that has seen her win six of her seven starts.
Dubai Gold may now eye the $1m Asahi Super Dry Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on Saturday 12 April at Randwick.
“We’ll see how she comes through it (NZ Oaks), but we will be going somewhere,” Gerard said.
“I’m pretty sure we would go to the Australian Oaks, or we’d look a little bit later if she needs more time, but they’re only three once.
“She ate up again last night, but I didn’t work her today (Monday). We’ll just give her a swim for a couple of days and make a plan from there.
“We’ve also had offers from people wanting to buy into her, so there’s a lot of things to consider yet.
“It’s quick enough (three weeks) to travel and run another 2400-metre race. It would be good if it was another week (19 April), but we’ll see how she does.”
Gerard said that if Dubai Gold required more time, she could look to a race like The Roses (Gr. 2, 2100m) on May 24 at Doomben, as a lead-up to the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2200m) on 7 June at Eagle Farm.
“Looking at Dubai Gold, physically, I can imagine what she could be in another six months,” Gerard said.
“She’s still got a lot of developing to do and giving her a bit more time and going to the Queensland Carnival could be a good option, too.”
Owned by Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, Ballymore Racing NZ Ltd, W Campbell, Keryn Corrigan, Dame Sian Elias & Hugh Fletcher, Dennis Ryan, Alan Schmedje & Dubai Gold Syndicate, she was selected by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catherine Bruggeman, and Ballymore Stables, and purchased for $110,000, from the draft of Landsdowne Park, at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale.
Whether Dubai Gold races over staying distances long-term is yet to be determined, but, as a rule, doing so as a three-year-old often provides the best chance.
Dubai Gold carries the Fletcher tartan of part-owners Dame Sian Elias & Hugh Fletcher, whose colours also adorn stable-mate Harlech, a former Group Two winner and triple Group One placed who recently won the Hazlett Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
Carrying a bloodline cross through her dam lines to Danehill, Dubai Gold is from an incredibly rich stakes winning and stallion producing family, that includes Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) and Niagara (Encosta de Lago), Group One winner Gathering (Tale of the Cat), while grand-dam Twyla (Danehill) is the third dam of dual Group One winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) who recently won The All-Star Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m).
Further down the dam line, her fourth dam, Show Lady, is by Sir Ivor (Sir Gaylord), winner of the 1968 Epsom Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m).
“Her breeding is unbelievable and it’s a very current family with the likes of Tom Kitten racing so well, too,” Gerard said.
“It’s an amazing family and it would be great for her future to race well in Australia.”
Gerard also reported on stable star Savaglee (3 c Savabeel – Glee, by O’Reilly), who ran such a good race for second in the Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 1 March at Flemington.
Having proved a class above his three-year-old rivals winning the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Levin Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m), Savaglee stepped up against older horses with a strong third in the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 8 February at Te Rapa, before his Australian assignment.
“He’s home having a holiday at The Oaks Stud, eating carrots, and I’m going out to see him this week and have a catch up with Rick (Williams) to discuss plans,” Gerard said.
“Rick has reported that he is good and he’s behaving, which is the main thing. It’s always their behaviour that dictates things with colts.”