Pride of Dubai 3YO Back on Track

Tara Madgwick - Friday September 29

A stakes-winner last season at two, the Grahame Begg trained Pride of Dubai gelding Maharba returned to top form at his second run back from a spell when powering home to win at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Maharba wins at the Valley - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Ridden by Mick Dee, Maharba improved sharply on his first up run to charge home between runners and win the 1200m sprint by the best part of a length over another stakes-winner in Brave Mead.

 

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He prepped up well coming into that first run back and has continued to improve after the race,” said Grahame Begg.

“After he was beaten first up I had to go back and recalibrate and this race was on and it seemed a better option and he’s got the money so we might be back here for the Red Anchor (G3 on Cox Plate day).”

A half-brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered Maharba was bred by Newhaven Park and runs for Garry and Marianne Towzell.

Maharba has the overall record of two wins from six starts with prizemoney topping $277,000 and is the seventh winner from eight foals to race from stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Blizzardly.

Her two year-old colt by Xtravagant sold for $185,000 at Inglis Classic this year when bought by Salvador Bloodstock / Duggan Racing and she was covered by Churchill (IRE) last spring after missing to Merchant Navy.

Maharba was one of seven Australian stakes-winners last season for Pride of Dubai, who stands at Coolmore at a fee of $27,500. 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Xtreme Freight Plate 1200m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.12
1
Maharba
- 3g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Blizzardly (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: M J Dee 57.5
2
0.8
Brave Mead
- 3c Brave Smash (JPN) x Mead (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 57.5
3
0.9
Armed Forces
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Royal Missile (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 56
4
4.4
Esecutore
- 3g Performer (AUS) x Cuddles For Naara (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
5
5.9
Sumadartson
- 3g Nostradamus (AUS) x Latino Goss (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: Rachael Cunningham Rdr: D Oliver 56
6
6.3
Coincide
- 3g Invader (AUS) x Conversely (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Pride of Dubai 2YO Wins Talindert
Transferred to Grahame Begg after his only previous start when fourth in the $1million ATC Golden Gift, promising Pride of Dubai gelding Maharba lived up to that form when taking out the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Pride of Dubai Sprinter Wins G3 Rising Fast
A stakes-winner at two and three, talented sprinter Maharba is also now a stakes-winner at four producing a tenacious effort at Flemington on Saturday to win the Group III VRC Rising Fast Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Pride of Dubai 3YO Wins Listed Hareeba Stakes
The Grahame Begg stable was in hot form on Saturday winning the Group I ATC All Aged Stakes at Randwick with high class mare Magic Time and also  the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington with talented Pride of Dubai three year-old Maharba.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.