It’s never too early to start dreaming of Dubai World Cup day success and the connections of Colour Up can do just that after their five-year-old painted a pretty picture in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint [Presented by Azizi].
Fourth in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal when last seen in March, the Mehmas gelding did it the hard way after being bumped at the start and then forced wide. Ridden by Sam Hitchcott who kept a cool head, he flew into the lead at the top of the straight and although tiring close home, had enough left to beat Leading Spirit by a quarter of a length. Saleymm was a good third on local debut.
“He’s a real nice horse,” said trainer Doug Watson of Sayed Hashish’s gelding. “A lot of our horses have been coming up a little bit short and he was getting tired at the end but hopefully he’ll move up from here.”
“It was a bit messy early, I wanted to be third or fourth but everyone wanted the same position,” said Hitchcott, deputising for the injured Pat Dobbs. “He’s done it really well in the end and has really filled out this season.
“These are the races we all come for. Commiserations to Pat, but it’s nice to get the opportunity and when you get it, it’s nice to produce.”
