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| Staff Writer |
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Heart Of Honor, the progressive dirt-bred 3YO trained by Jamie Osborne, is being aimed at the UAE 2000 Guineas on Fashion Friday's Al Maktoum Challenge Raceday after impressive back-to-back victories at Meydan this winter.
The colt by freshman American sire Honor A.P. found his true calling on the dirt surface after a promising second-place debut at Southwell in October. His pedigree, out of Scat Daddy mare Ruby Love, suggested he would excel on the surface, a prediction that has proven accurate with his meteoric rise in Dubai.
Heart Of Honor's first dirt outing resulted in a commanding four-and-a-half-length victory over Simon and Ed Crisford's Estmrar in a one-mile conditions race. The manner of his victory left little doubt about his affinity for the surface, as he powered clear in the closing stages under a confident ride.
He followed up with another impressive performance in the Dubai Maritime City, winning by two and a half lengths under Adrie de Vries. The Dutch rider had his mount perfectly positioned throughout, and when asked for his effort, Heart Of Honor responded with a professional display that marked him out as a serious contender for bigger targets.
"The plan is to go to the UAE 2000 Guineas with him, he appears to have come out of Friday's race OK and as long as he's alright between now and then, we'll take our chance," said Osborne, who previously enjoyed Middle East success with Toast Of New York in the 2014 UAE Derby.
The decision to run so close to the Guineas was carefully considered, as Osborne explained: "It was a finely balanced decision. If we don't win the 2000 Guineas, then some may say it is because we ran him two weeks before, but if we didn't run, then some also might say it's because we didn't give him enough experience.
"He's got a good mind and he's a very sound horse who has taken well to dirt. I do think that this will probably be his last start at a mile, I think he can improve again for another furlong or two in front of him."
Looking beyond the Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas, Osborne added: "Win, lose or draw the Guineas, I'd imagine we'd be heading to the Al Bastakiya as a trial for the UAE Derby."
While comparisons with Toast Of New York are inevitable, given that stable star's success in the UAE Derby and subsequent near-miss in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Osborne is keeping his options open regarding future plans.
"I'd rule nothing in and nothing out at the moment," he said. "If we get that far and end up in the Derby, that will have been a fairly intense period for him as a young horse, so we'll just take a breath, take stock and then have a think about what we do next."
The Al Maktoum Challenge Raceday, dubbed Fashion Friday, will feature an additional touch of sophistication with renowned British milliner Vivien Sheriff judging the Style Stakes competition. Sheriff, who has created pieces for the British royal family and global celebrities, will showcase her latest Racing Collection at the event.
The collection, crafted in her Wiltshire studio, features signature sculpted feathers, intricate crystal embellishments, and vibrant hand-dyed colours, reflecting Sheriff's commitment to sustainable and innovative design techniques.
"The Dubai World Cup attracts an international audience of impeccably dressed individuals who share a deep appreciation for fine luxury fashion," said Sheriff. "A Vivien Sheriff hat or headpiece is the perfect way to complete the entire ensemble, tying together colour, texture, and sparkle with timeless elegance and individuality."
The Style Stakes competition has become a highlight of Dubai's racing calendar, combining the excitement of world-class racing with the glamour of international fashion, making the Al Maktoum Challenge Raceday a truly unique sporting and social occasion.