A day of surprise results continued when Prize Money overturned odds-on favourite Postponed to win his first stakes race and claim a notable scalp in the process. Roger Varian's four-time Group 1 winner Postponed was widely expected to repeat last year's success in the City Of Gold and it appeared to be going to script as his stable-mate and pacemaker King Bolete (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) cut out the early running. Andrea Atzeni had Postponed anchored towards the rear and managed to get to the rail despite being drawn widest of all. Perhaps in hindsight that wasn't the wisest strategy, as Prize Money was always on his outside flank with his rider Adrie de Vries keen to keep tabs on the favourite. As the pace quickened Postponed was shaken up by Atzeni to round Emotionless, who had set sail for home. However, his response wasn't immediate and it offered De Vries a golden opportunity to utilise his considerable tactical acumen by keeping a gap sufficiently tight as to require Atzeni to switch lanes on Postponed and lose valuable momentum. At this stage Prize Money had seized the initiative off fellow Godolphin runner Emotionless and he had enough in the tank late on to hold off the rallying Postponed by a neck. “I can't say I thought he had a serious chance but I thought was going to improve again,” said de Vries, who has struck up a highly rewarding alliance with Godolphin this year. “He must be a serious horse, he's just improving. I knew if Postponed wasn't 100% there was a small chance for me. I was afraid I'd got there a little too soon but he lasted until the end.”
Although beaten, connections of Postponed were far from despondent and can look forward to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar 25. “I was squeezed for room, but he picked up ok in the straight. He'll come on for the run. It's all about World Cup night,” said Andrea Atzeni.
Successful on his only juvenile start in a late-season maiden at Newmarket in 2015, Prize Money failed to add to that tally in five outings as a 3-year-old until a gelding operation mid season appeared to focus his mind. Reappearing after a break, he won the November H. at Doncaster on the last day of the 2016 British turf flat season before being shipped to Dubai for the current campaign. Prize Money began his Carnival with promise, finishing a length second to Gold Trail (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in a handicap on Jan. 26 before beating Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) in a similar 12-furlong contest on Feb. 11. The 4-year-old has made sustained progress in recent months and given his pedigree this progress may not have peaked just yet.
Pedigree Notes…
Progeny of Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) tend to be slow burners, Godolphin's Hartnell (GB) being a prime example, and Prize Money is another son improving with age. His dam Dresden Doll (Elusive Quality) had the speed to win over five furlongs and she is a half-sister to English Highweight Crimplene (Ire) (Lion Cavern), who numbered a Coronation S. and an Irish 1000 Guineas among her three Group 1 wins. Prize Money is the best runner for Dresden Doll so far who has produced three winners from three runners from six foals. She has a 2-year-old named Al Mustashar (Shamardal) in training in Ireland and foaled a filly by Exceed And Excel (Aus) last year.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI CITY OF GOLD SPONSORED BY EMIRATES SKYCARGO-G2, $250,000, MEY, 3-4, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 2410mT, 2:29.33, gd.
1–@#PRIZE MONEY (GB), 123, g, 4, by Authorized (Ire)
1st Dam: Dresden Doll, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Crimson Conquest, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Sweet Ramblin Rose, by Turn-To (Ire)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Adrie de
Vries. $150,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 10-4-4-0,
$401,139. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Postponed (Ire), 126, h, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Ever Rigg (GB), by
Dubai Destination. (360,000gns yrl '12 TAOOCT) O-Sheikh
Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-St Albans Bloodstock Llp
(IRE); T-Roger Varian. $50,000.
3–Emotionless (Ire), 123, c, 4, Shamardal–Unbridled Elaine, by
Unbridled's Song. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $25,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire), Dylan Mouth (Ire), Memorial Day (Ire), Famous Kid, Cooptado (Arg), King Bolete (Ire), Good Trip (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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