Pride of Dubai Mare Wins G3 Premier’s Cup

The powerful Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is certainly getting the best from progressive mare Splendiferous (4m Pride of Dubai x Magical Mist, by High Chaparral) who upped the ante to score her first Graded win when taking out the Group III BRC Premier’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Fourth in the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks last year, Splendiferous won the Listed Port Adelaide Cup two starts ago and gave it all she had to score a tenacious head win under Tim Clark over the persistent Sweet Thomas.

“She was out on her feet there late," Adrian Bott said

"I must admit I got a little bit distracted mid-race, so I only picked them up from the 600m. It was obviously unfortunate circumstances there (with Steel Prince collapsing shortly after the start), but she was put into the race and kicked clear, so it was good to see her hold on. It was a good, tough win.

"We’ll look at the (Brisbane) Cup now that she’s up there. She seems to thrive this time of the year. She’s a mare in form and a mare that can stay, so it’s certainly got to be considered.”

A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Aquis Farm draft, Splendiferous runs for a big syndicate of lady owners who are no doubt having a lot of fun with her and have a valuable asset for the future now she is a two time stakes-winner.

She has the overall record of six wins from 19starts with prizemoney topping $412,000.

Bred by Aquis, Splendiferous is a half-sister to Group III winner Ballistic Boy and is the second stakes-winner from Magical Mist, a metro winning half-sister by High Chaparral to Group I winner Distill and Group I placed stakes-winner Mr Tipsy.

She is one of 14 stakes-winners for Pride of Dubai, who is a versatile sire and a real value option on the Coolmore roster this spring at a fee of $16,500.