Pride of Dubai Sprinter Wins G3 Rising Fast

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 2

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).

Maharba wins the G3 Rising Fast Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Grahame Begg and ridden by Jordan Childs, Maharba was an encouraging third at his first run back from a spell to Bellatrix Star in the Group II MRC Schillaci Stakes last month and took benefit from the run.

He hit the front with 200m to run and held off all the challengers to win by a head in a thriller.

 

"We thought this was a race that would be very well suited to him, under the sort of conditions of the race. He came out and ran third, first up in a Group Two weight-for-age, and he wasn't really ready that day, he had a lot of improvement to come, but we feel he's come up very, very well,” said Grahame Begg, who has nominated the gelding for the $1.5million Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth on November 30.

"He was weighted right up to his best today, but look, he's trained on beautifully since and still got a little bit of improvement to come. His coat's not 100% quite right yet, and he was very well ridden by Jordan. He took the right option, took the trail, and was very strong late."

Jordan Childs has been a regular partners for Maharba and believes he’s come back in great order at four.

"I think he's just improved and strengthened up a lot and matured as well. He's always been a nice horse, but ever since he's come back this time in, his jump outs, his track work, he's just gone to another level and obviously winning a decent race like that today on Derby Day definitely adds another string to his bow, hopefully he can keep going forward,” Childs said.

Maharba and his connections - image Grant Courtney

A half-brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered, Maharba was bred by Newhaven Park and runs for Garry and Marianne Towzell and has the overall record of four wins and five placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $640,000.

Maharba is the seventh winner from eight foals to race from stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Blizzardly, who has a yearling colt by Churchill (IRE).

Blizzardly was on-sold through Inglis Digital in 2022 and made just $1250 when bought by Doug Walker, who bred the Churchill colt and he has a bit to look forward to as she appears to be in foal to Pride of Dubai.

Pride of Dubai stands at a fee of just $22,000.

Maharba is the sixth Australian stakes-winner this season for Pride of Dubai, who is leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - G.H. Mumm Rising Fast Stakes Gr3 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:08.74
1
Maharba
- 4g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Blizzardly (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
Pride Of Dubai
2
0.1
Rey Magnerio
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Luchardo (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
Magnus
3
0.4
Charm Stone
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Najoom (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 54
I Am Invincible
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $1,550,000
Seller: Emirates Park, Murrurundi, NSW
Buyer: Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)
4
2.4
Crosshaven
- 7g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: C Newitt 54
5
2.4
Johnny Rocker
- 5h Jukebox (AUS) x Margene (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Bowman 56
6
4.2
It'sourtime
- 7g Time For War (AUS) x Zedoble (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: M J Dee 55.5
7
5.2
Schwarz
- 4h Zoustar (AUS) x Summer Sham (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
8
5.5
Who Dares
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Orvassa (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: Pat Carey & Harris Walker Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
9
5.6
Marble Nine
- 4g Kobayashi (AUS) x Aura Lee (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: W Egan 54.5
10
6.8
Spacewalk
- 5g Exosphere (AUS) x Benenden (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 56.5
11
8.3
Star Patrol
- 6g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x It's One (AUS) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: B Shinn 58
12
9.8
Press Down
- 5g Press Statement (AUS) x Down The Corridor (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Hardacre Rdr: Neil Farley 54
13
19.8
Jungle Jim
- 7g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Vikea (NZ) (Viking Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: Celine Gaudray 54
More Reading...
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.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
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.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
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.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Pride of Dubai 3YO Back on Track
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.
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.