Dubai invite for superstar Harry’s Son
by David Mollett,
2016-03-11 05:00:00.0
AFTER battling cancer in the past 12 months, trainer Paul Lafferty is happy to get any good news, and it arrived in a communication from Dubai on Thursday.
He was elated to learn that his star performer, Harry’s Son, had been invited to contest the $6m Dubai Turf on March 26.
"We are in, the invitation has been received," said Lafferty.
The grade 1 race will be run over 1,800m.
Harry’s Son finished a creditable fourth in the recent grade 1 Jebel Hatta on "Super Saturday". It obviously impressed the Dubai panel responsible for inviting overseas horses for the richest meeting in the world.
Lafferty said Harry’s Son was likely to be ridden by Piere Strydom.
"Piere has always had a great interest in the horse. He’s part of the programme so the ride is his whenever he wants."
Lafferty told the Sporting Post that Harry’s Son had faced an arduous journey in getting to Dubai.
"The business of getting horses out of the country is more costly and protracted than the Second World War!"
They had not sent Harry’s Son to Mike de Kock’s yard in Dubai, saying they "wanted to get started there and expand in our own right".
Harry’s Son cost A$60,000 ($44,900) at the Magic Millions sale in Australia and the horse was chosen by bloodstock expert James Bester.
"On returning home, I touted the horse to the bulk of the major players in SA, but no one wanted to come forward. I was getting pretty frustrated at the death when owner Roy Moodley kindly took the last position," said Lafferty.
"There are a few people who must be looking back now and thinking they missed out on a superstar," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Mike de Kock looks likely to saddle six runners on Dubai World Cup night with Mubtaahij representing the stable in the $10m World Cup.
De Kock has received six invites, the others being Forries Waltz (Dubai Turf), Prayer For Relief (Godolphin Mile), Tellina and Star Empire (Gold Cup) and Vale Dori (UAE Derby).
Commenting on Mubtaahij’s prospects for the richest race in the world, De Kock said: "He will need to improve if he is to be a player in the big one, though I still think he can finish in the first four."
Jockey and horse. Picture: THINKSTOCK
AFTER battling cancer in the past 12 months, trainer Paul Lafferty is happy to get any good news, and it arrived in a communication from Dubai on Thursday.
He was elated to learn that his star performer, Harry’s Son, had been invited to contest the $6m Dubai Turf on March 26.
"We are in, the invitation has been received," said Lafferty.
The grade 1 race will be run over 1,800m.
Harry’s Son finished a creditable fourth in the recent grade 1 Jebel Hatta on "Super Saturday". It obviously impressed the Dubai panel responsible for inviting overseas horses for the richest meeting in the world.
Lafferty said Harry’s Son was likely to be ridden by Piere Strydom.
"Piere has always had a great interest in the horse. He’s part of the programme so the ride is his whenever he wants."
Lafferty told the Sporting Post that Harry’s Son had faced an arduous journey in getting to Dubai.
"The business of getting horses out of the country is more costly and protracted than the Second World War!"
They had not sent Harry’s Son to Mike de Kock’s yard in Dubai, saying they "wanted to get started there and expand in our own right".
Harry’s Son cost A$60,000 ($44,900) at the Magic Millions sale in Australia and the horse was chosen by bloodstock expert James Bester.
"On returning home, I touted the horse to the bulk of the major players in SA, but no one wanted to come forward. I was getting pretty frustrated at the death when owner Roy Moodley kindly took the last position," said Lafferty.
"There are a few people who must be looking back now and thinking they missed out on a superstar," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Mike de Kock looks likely to saddle six runners on Dubai World Cup night with Mubtaahij representing the stable in the $10m World Cup.
De Kock has received six invites, the others being Forries Waltz (Dubai Turf), Prayer For Relief (Godolphin Mile), Tellina and Star Empire (Gold Cup) and Vale Dori (UAE Derby).
Commenting on Mubtaahij’s prospects for the richest race in the world, De Kock said: "He will need to improve if he is to be a player in the big one, though I still think he can finish in the first four."
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