First Stakes-Winner for Pride of Dubai
An exciting young stallion from the family of outstanding two year-old sires Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, Pride of Dubai has wasted no time following the family tradition and putting runs on the board with his first Australian stakes-winner on Saturday when Tanker (2c Pride of Dubai x Calcatta, by Tale of the Cat) took out the Listed MRC Inglis Debutant Stakes.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained debutant Tanker looked a picture in the paddock and ran up to his looks when coming from well back in the field to make it a one-act affair.
With just two runners behind him on the turn, Ben Allen eased Tanker out to the centre of the track. Displaying an electric turn of foot, the son of Pride Of Dubai surged clear to win eased down by two and a quarter lengths. Pride Of Dubai had another runner-in the race Bella Nipotina, who finished fourth after not having a lot of room in the straight.
Ciaron Maher said all the big two-year-old race like the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond are on the table.
"We knew he was a bit raw but had plenty under the hood, he showed a glimpse of that at Cranbourne on Monday," Maher said.
"Ian Smith bred him and retained a share and it's great for Pride Of Dubai to start off like that.
"We put the blinkers on so he would focus, you could see when Ben went for him in the straight he wobbled around a little bit. He will improve so much after today and he ended up pretty easily so he has a bright future.”
Consigned by his breeder, Ian Smith's Edinburgh Park Stud, to the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Tanker was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $170,000.
He is the third foal and second stakes-winner out of the Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes winner Calcatta following last seasons Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes Lady Naturaliste, who is by another of the Coolmore sires in Choisir.
A dual Group I winner at two of the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes and MRC Blue Diamond Stakes. Pride Of Dubai has made the perfect start to his stud career after the Lisa Latta-trained filly Platinum Dubai won on debut in New Zealand.