Sport | Horse Racing
Desert Party to show true colours at UAE Derby
When Godolphin's trainer Saeed Bin Suroor saddled the first two home in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3), the powerful stable's expensive purchase Vineyard Haven was not in the mix.
- By Geir Stabell, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 22:57 March 26, 2009
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
- A $2.1 million two-year-old purchase at Fasig-Tipton Sales, Desert Party certainly has the right family connections.
London: When Godolphin's trainer Saeed Bin Suroor saddled the first two home in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3), the powerful stable's expensive purchase Vineyard Haven was not in the mix.
Bitterly disappointing back in fourth, he had no chance with a colt named Desert Party, given a confident ride by Frankie Dettori to win for the second time at the Carnival. On the day he, rather than Vineyard Haven, looked a UAE Derby (G2) winner in the making. After sitting just off the pace, the ex-Eoin Harty trainee came with a determined run to outstay another nice Godolphin runner, Regal Ransom, just like he had also in the prep for this Guineas.
They finished one-two again but this time Desert Party was more dominant. He is going very much the right way, and stretching up to 1,800 metres in the Derby will be just perfect.
Desert Party joined Godolphin at the end of last year, and he has made a perfect start for the team in blue. Dettori rode him just off the pace in the Guineas, taking up a position on the inside, and the colt will have learnt a lot from that experience. He was asked to come through with his challenge between horses, after having faced the kick back in the early exchanges, and nothing seemed to bother him.
When given the office by Frankie, he put his head down and went about his businesses like an old pro. Saeed Bin Suroor also trains Midshipman, last year's winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), but, although I know I may well be proven wrong here, I would say Desert Party is a better card if they want to sit in at the table on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs in May. He appears to have more stamina, and the two runs under his belt already this year will stand him stand him in good stead against the big boys in Kentucky. First though, there is that not so unimportant race called the UAE Derby (G2) on World Cup night, a race that will tell us a lot more about this guy.
His sire was beaten a nose, by stable companion Express Tour, when favourite for the UAE Derby eight years ago. Hopes are high that Desert Party can gain revenge for that unexpected defeat.
A $2.1 million two-year-old purchase at Fasig-Tipton Sales, Desert Party certainly has the right family connections. He is a son of Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) winner Street Cry, out of the Tabasco Cat daughter Sage Cat. This pedigree says that he should stay 1 ¼ miles, and that is also what his style of running is telling us.
Geir Stabell is the editor of www.globeform.com
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