Pride Of Dubai Filly Impresses at Canterbury

Mark Smith - Friday February 28

The decision to start Dubai Star in a 2yo maiden over 1100 metres at Canterbury on Friday in preference to Saturday’s Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick paid off when the daughter of Pride Of Dubai led all the way under Tim Clark to break her maiden at her third start.

Sent off a short-priced favourite, Dubai Star had to do some work to find the lead but kept up a strong gallop in the straight to defeat the I Am Invincible filly I Am Swerving by a length and a quarter with Godolphin’s Exceed And Excel filly Jerle a short head back in third.

Advertisement

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Dubai Star split Hanseatic and River Night in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown when making her career debut before a close-up sixth in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick on December 14.

Bott said the decision was made to run at Canterbury rather than Randwick because of the shorter distance and did not want her to have a gut buster after ten weeks off.

“There was plenty of merit to that. She came into this race with plenty of physical and fitness improvement in her,” Bott said.Dubai Star as a yearling

“That is what we wanted to see from her, come here do things right and give her a bit of confidence and hopefully she can go right on with it.

“There was plenty of pressure early on. She fought them off and was strong late.”

Carrying the colours of her breeder Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and partners, Dubai Star was purchased by Gai Waterhouse Racing / Adrian Bott for $320,000 out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is the first foal of the city winning Fastnet Rock mare Jezzabba who is a half-sister to the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Von Costa de Hero (Encosta de Lago) who placed in the Golden Slipper, Caulfield Guineas and Australia Guineas.

Jezzabba is a daughter of the Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Piavonic.

Waterhouse and Bott went back to the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where they shelled out $500,000 for Dubai Star’s full sister.

After foaling a Snitzel filly last spring, Jezzabba was bred back to Pride Of Dubai who extends his lead as the top first season sire.

Dubai Star becomes the fifth winner and fourth in Australia for the dual Group 1 winning son of Street Cry (IRE) who covered 176 mares at Coolmore Stud last spring at a fee of $38500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Venue Mode Mdn Hcp 1100m

Canterbury Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.80
1
Dubai Star
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Jezzabba (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
2
1.3
I Am Swerving
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Unswerving (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Avdulla 57
3
1.4
Jerle
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Shannara (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58
4
2.5
Xylaroo
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Coco Kerringle (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Boss 55
5
4.0
Salateen
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Salma (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
6
4.8
Castlecomer
- 2c Outreach (AUS) x Barcelona Girl (AUS) (Noverre (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 57
7
5.0
Spicy Restaurant
- 2c Poet's Voice (GB) x Cannery Row (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: Danielle Seib Rdr: G Schofield 57
8
10.5
Close To Me
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Rose Of Choice (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
More Reading...
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.