There was only one stakes race in Australia on Good Friday and it produced a new stakes-winner for Pride of Dubai when Willie Pike steered Buckets Ridge to an impressive win in the Listed WATC Melvista Stakes (2200m) at Ascot.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Buckets Ridge disappointed last start in the Listed WATC JC Roberts Stakes at 1850m, but fitted with blinkers and stepped up in trip he was a different horse.
Buckets Ridge loomed up as the widest runner on the turn and kept up a good gallop to the line running the trip right out to win by a length and a half taking his overall record to three wins from nine starts with prizemoney toping $144,000.
The Group II WATC Derby on April 13 looks a perfect race for Buckets Ridge, who was a $75,000 Magic Millions Perth purchase for Neil Henchie from the Amelia Park Racing and Breeding draft.
He runs for an ownership group that includes his breeders and is the first foal of Reveille, a four time winning High Chaparral (IRE) half-sister to stakes-placed La Farola from stakes-placed Europa Point.
Reveille traces back to an iconic WA female family with her third dam being Group III WATC Sires Produce Stakes winner Marooned Lady, the dam of Champion 3YO Filly Special Harmony and Group II winners King Canute and Redwoldt. The family has been in the spotlight in recent times for producing $7million earning triple Group I winner Fangirl.
Reveille was onsold through Inglis Digital in May 2022 for $37,500 and had a filly last spring by Ducimus and then was not served.
Buckets Ridge is the 23rd stakes-winner for Pride of Dubai and is bred on a very successful nick. Pride of Dubai over High Chaparral mares has produced 11 winners from 14 starters so 78.6% winners to runners and importantly four stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Desert Lightning and Group III West Australian Oaks winner She’s Fit with the SW to runner strike rate of 28.5%.
