By Heather Anderson
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby was enjoying a top-notch night after saddling Spotify (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) to take the G3 Dubai Millennium S. at Meydan on Thursday, and the evening continued to improve as Scat Daddy filly Divine Image saluted in the $250,000 G3 UAE Oaks over 1900 metres. It was the first win in the race for Appleby, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was on hand to witness his stable's successes.
A bit reluctant to load, Divine Image perched in fifth in between horses as Swift Rose (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) secured a half-length lead past the stands the first time. Closely shadowed by Listed UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Silva (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Swift Rose was traveling easily and set fractions of :25.53, :49.75 and 1:14.36. Asked for her best effort 500 metres out, Divine Image was produced well out in the center of the track in upper stretch, collared Saeed bin Suroor trainee Swift Rose five jumps from the post and kicked on to win by a neck. Razeena (Malibu Moon), four wide the whole way, ran a brave race to take third another 3 1/2 lengths behind, while covering 16 more metres than the winner according to Trakus.
“She was perfect away and I obviously asked her to get her position early,” said William Buick. “Coming into the first turn it is a short run, so I just took her back. She has a big stride and I just wanted to get her out running. Once I pulled her out, I was confident I was always going to get there. She is fiery and that is probably what makes her the filly she is. It is only her third run tonight and she is bound to improve on experience on every level.”
Added Appleby of the Dec. 13 Chelmsford novice victress, “I have to say, turning in, I thought Hayley [Turner] had rode a nice race [on Swift Rose] and 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. The [UAE Derby] is certainly under consideration. I'd say she's not flashy in what she does, but you can't fault the way she gallops out there.”
Divine Image was runner-up to the aforementioned Silva in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas testing the Meydan dirt for the first time on Jan. 31.
Pedigree Notes…
Divine Image is the 112th black-type winner and 69th group winner for her late Ashford Stud-based sire. Out of the MSP Sure Route, under her third dam is the GSW Motor City (Street Sense), in addition to MSW Winter Book (Any Given Saturday), and SW and G3 Sweet Solera S. third Satulagi (Officer). Three-time Classic-placed Star of Gdansk (Danzig Connection) is under the stakes-winning fourth dam Star Empress (Young Emperor {GB}). Sure Route foaled a colt by Union Rags in 2017 and a filly by Air Force Blue last year. She visited the latter stallion again last spring.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE OAKS SPONSORED BY RANGE ROVER-G3, $250,000, Meydan, 2-21, 3yo, f, 1900m, 2:01.76, ft.
1–DIVINE IMAGE, 126, f, 3, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Sure Route (GB) (MSP-US, $201,163),
by Ishiguru
2nd Dam: Shore Light, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Shawgatny, by Danzig Connection
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. ($195,000 RNA Ylg
'17 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '17 FTKOCT; €360,000 2yo '18
ARQMAY). O-Godolphin; B-Peter Magnier (KY); T-Charlie
Appleby; J-William Buick. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0,
$206,535. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: C.
2–Swift Rose (Ire), 126, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Tulips (Ire),
by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor.
$50,000.
3–Razeena, 126, f, 3, Malibu Moon–Pink Palace, by Empire
Maker. ($27,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP; $185,000 2yo '18
OBSAPR). O-Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi; B-Anderson
Farms Ont Inc (ON); T-Doug Watson. $25,000.
Margins: NK, 3HF, 2.
Also Ran: Habah, Al Hayette, Al Shamkhah, Starry Eyes, Silva (Ire), Dream With You (Fr), Mulhima (Ire), Dubai Beauty (Ire). Scratched: Lady Parma.
Click for the Emirates chart, the Am Wager PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Emirates Video.
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