He dominated the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup (G1) day and Kentucky-bred Tuz put up a strikingly similar performance in his return when winning the Al Garhoud Sprint Dec. 6 at Meydan Racecourse—the feature race of Dubai Racing Carnival meeting three.
Being drawn widest of seven was a minor concern for jockey Tadhg O'Shea, but once he got Tuz onto the rail the race was effectively over and he barely saw another rival, cruising home by 5 3/4 lengths from defending race winner Colour Up. It was a superb performance for the son of Oxbow , even against lesser rivals, and signaled an intent for a defense of the Golden Shaheen April 5.
"He's very, very good and he got there (to the front) easily," said O'Shea. "He's awesome out of the gates—you just lie up his neck and let him at it. The difference between Tuz and other horses is that he lands running.
"He's a ball of muscle and a ball of fire."
"In my opinion he's one of the fastest horses in the world," said trainer Bhupat Seemar. "He beat some of the fastest horses from Japan and America in the Golden Shaheen. He had to do what he did today, but then there's always a worry because he's a big horse, a 7-year-old, and he was drawn 7.
"He set some very fast fractions, and you can see from the horses who finished around him that the early horses didn't finish in the money and they came from the back to finish second and third.
"We'll probably run next in January (Dubawi Stakes) and then Super Saturday (Mahab al Shimaal) and then the World Cup (Dubai Golden Shaheen)."
Osborne Strikes for the Europeans
There was a first international winner of the Carnival when trainer Jamie Osborne struck at his first attempt with Heart of Honor, a son of Honor A. P. who delivered a professional win in the day's opening race, a conditions stakes for 2-year-olds.
Heart of Honor was purchased specifically for a Dubai campaign and owners Jim and Claire Bryce were at Meydan to celebrate the victory. Ridden by Adrie de Vries, Heart of Honor stalked the pace from three wide and then forged ahead in the straight, comfortably holding the Global Campaign colt Estmrar by 4 1/2 lengths.
"Jim and Claire came here last year with Many A Star, who wasn't good enough, and this year we wanted to do things differently so thankfully they backed me in buying dirt horses," explained Osborne. "It was also my brief to give Claire a winner two days before her birthday, and it's not often a plan comes off!"
Heart of Honor will now be aimed at a non-winners of two contest Jan. 10, added the trainer.
Meydan Racecourse is in action again Dec. 13, when the Madjani Stakes (G2) is the feature race.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
