Prince crowned Killavullan king
The famous Sheikh Mohammed colours had made a welcome return to the spotlight on Saturday when Casamento took the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
And they were again back in the winner’s enclosure here as Dermot Weld’s son of Shamardal maintained his unbeaten record in some style.
He was heavily backed into 4/9 favouritism after beating subsquent Racing Post Trophy runner-up Seville in a Gowran maiden on debut.
And he confirmed the promise of that outing by storming to a very impressive victory in this Group Three feature.
He travelled well just off the pace for Pat Smullen as Weld long shot Catalpa Sail made the early running from Aidan O’Brien’s Petronius Maximus.
Dubai Prince made smooth headway to take it up early in the straight, and Smullen only had to shake the reins at his colt to go clear.
David Wachman’s Warning Flag (4/1) stayed on under Johnny Murtagh, but was beaten convincingly three-and-a-half lengths into second.
The O’Brien-trained Park Avenue – ridden by Colm O’Donoghue – was third at 12/1.
Afterwards Smullen was clearly impressed with his mount, and says he could make up into a top-class middle-distance performer next season.
“We’ve always liked him. He won a very hot maiden at Gowran and he won very impressively there,” he said
Dubai Prince had to drop back in trip here and Smullen admitted: “It’s definitely not ideal – he’s definitely a middle-distance horse – but the good horses can cope with it. I think he could end up going a mile-and-a-half next year. The good mile-and-a-half horses have got to have pace, and he showed that today”.
Winning trainer Weld added: “He is a very high-class performer – he is a joy to train. Seven furlongs is really too short for him. He will make a very exciting horse next year.
“He is in a Group One at Saint-Cloud (Criterium de Saint-Cloud) in three weeks’ time so I’ll have a chat with John Ferguson (bloodstock advisor) and Sheikh Mohammed to see if he goes for that.
“He will go on any ground. He will run exceptionally well over one mile next year, but his real potential will come over longer distances.
“He is by an outstanding stallion and his dam won over one mile, five furlongs.”
Sky Bet introduced Dubai Prince into their Epsom Derby market at 12/1, while Ladbrokes are as short as 8/1. William Hill go 14/1 for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
Weld later revealed that Dubai Prince, like Casamento, will join Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation for his Classic season.
“He will be joining Godolphin, but I’m delighted to have had the pleasure of training him as a two-year-old,” reflected the trainer. He’s a lovely horse with a big future.”
Weld and Smullen went on to complete a big-race double when uneasy 11/8 favourite Famous Name produced a spectacular display to repeat his 2008 win in the listed Trigo Stakes, his sixth win at Leopardstown.
Quickening clear in devastating style approaching the furlong-pole, the Khalid Abdullah owned five-year-old opened a seven lengths winning margin over Devoted To You, prompting Weld to declare: “He’s always been a lovely horse to train and that’s his tenth Group or listed race win, a great servant.
“I must discuss his future with Lord Grimthorpe and I’d love to keep him in training next year, because he’s racing with great enthusiasm and enjoying his racing. He’s in the Prix Perth (Group 3 in Saint-Cloud) next Sunday and a decision on whether he travels will be made later in the week.”
The double put Pat Smullen on the 91-winner mark for the season, eight ahead of reigning champion Johnny Murtagh who, after a number of placed mounts, responded by winning the final on Lea Claire for Matthieu Palussiere.
Tiz The Shot, described by his trainer Kevin Prendergast as “the most experienced horse in the race” held the late challenge of the promising Weld-trained debutant Notable Graduate by a half-length in the two-year-old colts maiden.
“He’s a good mover and handled the fast ground well,” commented Prendergast. “He deserved to get his head in front and the strong pace helped him. He stays well and should make a nice three-year-old.”
