Third on debut behind boom filly Ottoman at Rosehill on December 20, Pride of
Dubai charged home from back in the field at his second start to beat all bar
Of the Brave in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.He failed by a short half head on that occasion, but most race watchers would conclude the 1200 metres of this Saturday's rich feature will be far more to his liking.
Foaled and raised at Coolmore for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Pride of Dubai is a half-brother to stakes-winner Al Aneed from stakes-placed Danehill mare Al Anood, a half-sister to French Group I winner Rafha, the dam of Group I winner and champion European sire Invincible Spirit (sire of leading young Australian sire I Am Invincible).
Being by a champion sire in Street Cry (IRE), who is sadly no longer with us, from such a powerful European female family, makes Pride of Dubai a hot stallion property and one that would appeal to breeders in both hemispheres.
A win on Saturday would be nice and seal the deal sooner rather than later, but there's no doubting his ability and win, lose or draw he's a colt that commands plenty of interest going forward.
His dam Al Anood was bought in Australia as a yearling by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's adviser Tim Stakemire for $500,000 at Magic Millions in 2005 and while she was a moderate success on the track winning two races and earning Black Type in Adelaide, her true worth has been found in the breeding barn.
Al Anood has a yearling filly and colt foal to follow by High Chaparral (IRE) and was covered last spring by Medaglia D'Oro (USA).
