Guns And Glory (pictured) staked a claim for a spot in the G2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup day with an emphatic win on the final night of the Dubai Racing Carnival.
The Gun Runner colt, trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, barely saw another rival in the 1900metre Dubai Marina Conditions race for three-year-olds.
Guns And Glory cost owners Jim and Fitri Hay Euro543,210 at the 2023 Goffs Dubai Sale and it was easy to see why on this his third start. He dominated the race from the front and turned it on further close home, beating former winner Elyabri by 12 lengths.
The win added to Zabeel Stables’ already strong team of G2 UAE Derby potentials, with Guns And Glory possibly having done enough to join stablemates Killer Collect and Mendelssohn Bay in the race. It did, however, come at a price.
“His rider [Jennifer Ferguson] fell off him yesterday and has a broken leg, because he’s a bit of a handful and spends a lot of time on his hind legs,” said O’Shea afterwards.
“I said to [owner]Dr Hay, I thought he’d win the first time, but he needed that run and then was disappointing last time. At the start of the season, I thought he was a UAE Derby horse and I’m sure if the invitation comes they’d love to take it up.”
Hay added: “He was a bit babyish last time, but tonight he’s shown that he’s come on a ton. I think with a performance like that he deserves a run [in the Derby.]”
It was an excellent evening for Seemar who picked up a five-timer, initiated when Mezzotinto got his first win at the 22nd attempt in the Oasis Maiden, race two, over 1200metres on dirt. Ridden on the lead by O’Shea, the six-year-old went further clear in the straight and ran out the uncontested winner, beating stablemate Sikorsky by four and a quarter lengths.
“He’s been very consistent but has drawn badly a lot,” said O’Shea. “He had stall one today and he’s an old pro, so he was able to make use of it. He’s a big horse and he looks after himself, so he should have plenty of longevity
