Under the watchful eye of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Gr.3 UAE Oaks went to Godolphin’s Divine Image. The progressive daughter of Scat Daddy came with a brilliant late run under William Buick to nab leader Swift Rose and Hayley Turner by a neck, handing trainer Charlie Appleby a first victory in the fillies’ $2.5 million UAE Derby preparation. Sitting handily, the 3-year-old star received plenty of kickback whilst chasing Saeed bin Suroor’s charge around the home turn, but closed resolutely to land her first Group victory in her third start.
Aside from Divine Image’s hard-fought victory, Doug Watson trainee Razeena turned in an eye-catching performance with Pat Dobbs aboard, sitting four-wide off pacesetter Swift Rose to stay on for third by 3½ lengths. Stablemate Habah shifted her way through runners to hold off Al Hayette for fourth and fifth placings in the home straight. Al Shamkhah sat in the box seat under Mickael Barzalona to finish sixth, whilst Simon Crisford’s Chelmsford Novice Stakes winner Starry-Eyes had to go wide, closing in seventh. Highly regarded UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) winner Silva came under pressure 600m out, taking the eighth spot followed by Dream With You and Mulhima, whilst Dubai Beauty was eased by Christophe Soumillon.
“I have to say, turning in, I thought Hayley had ridden a nice race (on Swift Rose),” Appleby added. “I thought she would skip away from the field, but once William got our filly leveled out, I was confident in the last furlong because she’d be running along strongly. She’s a filly who’s definitely got the talent. We just need to make sure we take it in the right direction. The (UAE Derby) is certainly under consideration. She has experience on this (distance) and surface and it’ll definitely be something that’s put in the melting pot. I’d say she’s not flashy in what she does, but you can’t fault the way she gallops out there. She’s taken plenty of dirt on both occasions and she seems to face it well.”
Turner, who appeared a winner at the top of the lane, definitely felt the bittersweetness of a great effort to just fall short in second: “I was getting so excited half a furlong out. She has run a blinder. I’ve ridden her once before. I won on her and I was aware she had a bit of ability. She’s been a bit disappointing on her last two runs, but I think she’s just been finding her feet over here and settling in. She’s been going better at home. It’s a good advantage if you can get a good draw and get out well on the dirt.”
“I had to work a little bit early to get a good position,” Murphy said of Silva, who failed to land the Guineas-Oaks double. “She didn’t travel as well as she did the last time. It is hard to say she didn’t stay, as I was beaten too far out. Fair play to the winner. She is a progressive daughter of Scat Daddy.”
Distance: 1900 meters, Surface: Dirt, Track: Left-handed, Qualification: 3yo fillies,Purse: $250,000
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com