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| Staff Writer |
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Having claimed her maiden top-level success in the desert heat, Believing now has Royal Ascot firmly in her sights as George Boughey plots a return to the summer showpiece.
The 5YO daughter of Mehmas finally secured her first victory at the highest level at the ninth attempt when storming to glory in the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on April 5. The battling triumph over Japan's Win Carnelian has vindicated the faith shown by her new connections - the Coolmore partners and John Stewart's Resolute Racing - who splashed out 3 million guineas (approximately US$3,986,453) for her at the 2024 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Though absent from Dubai for the big day, Boughey has derived immense satisfaction from his charge's performance.
"I've actually never seen her win," the trainer said. "I'm expecting my first child this week, she's overdue, so I possibly could have been there, but the job was done by my team who know her so well.
"We did a lot of work with the stalls after she went over in the gate at Del Mar, just trying to get that discipline into her that she was able to relax. She just seemed in a very different mental space in the last eight to 10 weeks. She's gone from strength to strength, and she's looked amazing since we got back."
The talented mare enjoyed a progressive if frustrating campaign last term, winning the Achilles and Gr.2 Sapphire Stakes while finishing fourth in both major sprint contests at Royal Ascot. She further enhanced her reputation with runner-up efforts in the Gr.1 Flying Five and Gr.1 Nunthorpe Stakes, before placing third in the Gr.1 Prix de l'Abbaye.
"There was unfinished business that we wanted to tick off. There was huge personal satisfaction in Coolmore keeping her in the stable and trusting the process. Winning the One Thousand Guineas with Cachet was an amazing day, but to ship a filly through the winter into Dubai after what happened in America (late veterinary scratch at the Breeders' Cup) was very satisfying.
"We'll wait a long time to achieve something else like that."
Previously raced in the colours of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing—Jane Addams, the Al Quoz Sprint marked her first start for her new powerhouse owners, who have now set their sights on Royal Ascot where she chased home Asfoora and Khaadem last year.
"She'll go straight to Royal Ascot," Boughey confirmed. "She'll have an entry in both of the Group One sprints, and we'll make a decision with the owners. They've got Storm Boy for the sprint division too.
"I don't think she'll be campaigned quite as aggressively this year, but Ascot is the main target. The King Charles is arguably the greatest test of speed and she'll have horses around the world taking her on. I'd love to see her turn up there in the form she was in at Meydan.
"We've only had a couple of top-level performers going from their fourth to fifth year and we don't really have that in flat racing. It's great and we'd love to have more of them, they're just very hard to find."