By Alan Carasso
The connections of Domineer (GB) (Shamardal) are hopeful for an invitation to the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 26 after the 6-year-old gelding took out the Class 1 Happy Valley Trophy H. for the second consecutive season Wednesday evening at the city oval.
Taking full advantage of the three hole, Zac Purton bounced the $71 (6-1) chance away and into a forward position and wanted to fire up, but settled down in the box seat from third. Pulled out three wide at the head of the lane, the big-bodied bay hit the front going well a furlong from the wire and lengthened away to score by two lengths as the 133-pound top weight in the field of 11 (VIDEO).
“He's done his job and now we'll see if we get an invite for the Dubai Golden Shaheen and if we do I'll take him,” said winning trainer Caspar Fownes. “He was entered so we'll see what happens. I'm delighted with that, it's great to come back carrying top weight and win it again.”
Five of seven of Domineer's career victories have come at Happy Valley, the other two over the all-weather track at Sha Tin, including a success in 2015 in which he covered six furlongs in 1:07.45.
“He's a nice dirt horse and he's a very good Happy Valley horse but we've run out of options now,” said Fownes. “I'd like to see him race ante-clockwise because he always has a tendency to hang, so going the other direction [in Dubai] might be alright, he should appreciate that. He's a big, strong horse and it was a good effort. He won convincingly today, carrying 133 pounds.”
Produced by the Danehill mare Mania (Ire), Domineer cost representatives of the Hong Kong Jockey Club €210,000 when part of The Castlebridge Consignment at the Arqana August Sale in 2011. He was reoffered at the Hong Kong International Sale in March 2013, fetching a final bid of HK$5 million (£413,034/€500,000). This year's HKIS is scheduled for Friday, Mar. 18.
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