With only three rivals, precocious little filly Platinum Dubai won’t be hard to spot at Otaki
By Barry Lichter • 25 September 2019
Trainer Lisa Latta is expecting a good run from little professional Platinum Dubai when she debuts at Otaki on Thursday.
And while she says a lack of raceday experience has to count against her, with only three rivals the filly might think it’s just another jumpout.
With the track a heavy 10 and another 20ml of rain forecast today, there’s already been one withdrawal, leaving only a four-horse field for the two-year-old dash over 800 metres.
Platinum Dubai met a bigger line-up when she scored a stylish win at the Levin jumpouts on September 11, sitting in behind the pace before running down stablemate and race rival Platinum Star. Lincoln Farms’ promising colt Platinum Rain ran third.
Conditions will be worse on Thursday and, while Latta admits she doesn’t know how Platinum Dubai will handle a bog, she does like the filly.
“She’s not very big, small and compact, but she’s a precocious two-year-old type who has been a quick learner.”
In her first jumpout on August 28, Platinum Dubai ran second, just beaten in a five-horse heat, when again doing everything right and racing on the speed.
The first yearlings by Pride Of Dubai, pictured, were highly sought after.“But the telling point could be her lack of raceday experience which Piaggio has got.” The Johno Benner and Holly Wynyard-trained colt, by Karaka Million winner Vespa, led and ran third on debut at Wanganui earlier this month on a heavy 10 track.
Platinum Dubai, raced by Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms, cost $100,000 at Karaka in January.
His sire Pride of Dubai, who stands for A$38,500 at Coolmore, was one of the most popular first season sires, being a son of the ill-fated Street Cry. He won two Group I races in his first four starts, the Blue Diamond and Sires’ Produce.
The filly’s dam Musical Lady won three races and is a half sister to AJC Oaks winner Rena’s Lady.
Rena’s Lady was at her most effective on wet tracks winning the Group III Adrian Knox on a heavy 10 and Group I Oaks on a soft 7.
Lincoln Farms’ only other entrant Ajay Lincoln will not start in the sixth race, Latta determined to kick off his new campaign on a track no worse than dead.