Pride’ as Snowden and Browne score back-to-back Blue Diamond

Trainer Peter Snowden and jockey Damian Browne posted back-to-back successes in the A$1 million G1 Blue Diamond S. as Pride Of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry) overcame serious interference in the straight to win by a head from Shadwell’s 100-1 shot Reemah (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). The imposing colt missed the break and was pushed along to keep up with the early pace yet managed to secure a mid-field position on the rail, stalking the short-priced favorite, Robert Smerdon’s unbeaten Fontiton (Aus) (Turffontein). Prompt Return (Aus) {Beneteau (Aus)} ensured that there was plenty of speed early on and the leaders began to weaken turning for home. When Fontiton pulled off the front runners’ heels to deliver her challenge, she and Pride Of Dubai bumped on numerous occasions as Mark Zahra tried to hold his main rival in a pocket. However, the strongly-built colt fought his way through the narrow gap, picked himself up and rallied home to score impressively, resisting the storming late challenge of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig’s Reemah.

“It was a bit hairy trying to get the gap,” winning hoop Browne commented. “On straightening, Mark [Zahra] tried to shut the gate on me but lucky I’m on a big, strong, good horse,” he added. “He was able to do that just on pure ability.” Zahra subsequently earned a 10-meeting suspension from the stewards for careless riding. Pride Of Dubai became the first maiden in two decades to win Victoria’s richest 2-year-old event. Not only that, but the first three home were among four maiden horses going into the race as Coolmore’s A$1 million yearling purchase Lake Geneva (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), an eye-catching second in the G3 Widden S. on debut Jan. 31, finished strongly in third. The impressive second-placed Reemah had two previous runs under her belt, including a second in a 1000-meter plate at Moonee Valley last time out. Market favorite Fontiton traveled well but failed to deliver her customary turn of foot and will now be rested until the Spring. “She did have a hell of a hard run here in the [G2 Blue Diamond] Prelude and she seemed to be back on deck but that was probably her grand final and she might have been over the top today,” Smerdon said. 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa’s homebred Pride Of Dubai was third behind Godolphin’s Ottoman (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) on his Rosehill debut Dec. 20 before running a fast-finishing second to Of The Brave (Aus)(Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude. The Mark Riley-trained colt raced prominently on Saturday but showed signs of tiredness entering the stretch and only beat two home.

Pride Of Dubai provided Peter Snowden with his third Blue Diamond winner in five years, the first for the partnership he has been operating with son Paul since last May. Snowden Snr. was previously head trainer for another Sheikh Mohammed–bin Rashid Al Maktoum–under the Darley banner, with his son acting as Melbourne foreman. The team scored in last year’s Blue Diamond courtesy of Earthquake (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus})–who could only achieve 10th in the G1 Oakleigh Plate Saturday– and in 2011 with Sepoy (Aus) (Elusive Quality). 

“It’s always great to win these races, especially for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa,” said Paul Snowden. “This is the first group of horses he’s given us, so it’s a big result,” he continued. “We picked this bloke out as a yearling. Out of a group of about 10 or 12 yearlings, he was the number one pick out of that bunch, so it was good of him to give him to us.” Reflecting on the race, the co-trainer commented, “If he didn’t win today, he would have been a certainty beaten. To his credit he’s picked himself up off the canvas and has proven himself a worthy winner.” Snowden Jnr. kept all options open regarding the colt’s future, identifying the G1 Sires’ Produce S. over 1400 meters and G1 Champagne S. over a mile as ideal targets, although not ruling out a tilt at the 1200-meter G1 Golden Slipper.

Pride Of Dubai is the fifth foal out of Al Anood (Aus) (Danehill), a A$500,000 yearling purchase for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and half-sister to Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), who went on to produce seven black type performers including the leading sires Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert) and Kodiac (GB) (Danehill).