O'Neill to have six-horse stable in Dubai
Trainer Doug O’Neill is sending a team of six runners to Dubai on Monday with the goal of having a representative or two in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby on March 25.
The $1 million UAE Derby is run at 1 3/16 miles and is a pivotal qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.
Tall Boy, a maiden who finished fourth of five in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17, and Ah Jeez, who was fourth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar on Dec. 4 and last of six in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 30, are candidates for the UAE Derby.
Leandro Mora, longtime assistant for O’Neill, will direct the Dubai stable.
Other runners in the traveling group include I’ll Stand Taller, last of six in the California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Jan. 7; Ami Please, who was third in the Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Dec. 30; and Get Back Goldie, a winner for O’Neill in Dubai last year who was sixth in the Stormy Liberal Stakes for turf sprinters at Del Mar on Dec. 3.
The stable recently acquired Sifting Sands, who was fourth in the Grade 3 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup at Laurel Park in September. Sifting Sands, who will be sent to Dubai, was bought for $200,000 at the Keeneland horses of racing age sale in November.
O’Neill had four wins from 18 starters in Dubai in 2022. Hot Rod Charlie was the star of the team, winning the Group 2 second round of the Maktoum Challenge last February and later finishing second in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in March.
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