Dubai: Heart of Honor wins 1st start since the Belmont Stakes
Having spent the summer contesting such banner races as the Preakness and the Belmont, Heart Of Honor deserved headline billing at Meydan’s second Dubai Racing Carnival meeting of the season.
Back at the scene of his agonizing defeat in the UAE Derby (G2) in April, Jamie Osbourne’s gelding was typically slowly away in the Nakheel Stakes, the final race on Friday's card. Jockey Saffie Osborne didn’t panic, however, taking a route around most of her rivals and getting a good response once in the clear. Heart Of Honor came home well, putting 7 1/4 lengths between himself and second-place Galactic Star on the line.
It was a relieved Osborne who greeted the winner afterwards. “He’s frightened us many times in races, that’s his style and there’s an element of laziness, but he conserves energy for later on,” he said. “The Entisar in three weeks’ time is the plan, as he won’t have a penalty in that.”
Jim Bryce, who owns Heart Of Honor with wife Claire, added: “It’s such a relief, you know he’s got the class to do it in theory, but there’s no ‘gimmes’ on this racetrack.”
It was a notable victory for Saffie Osborne, too, the jockey having returned from three months out due to injury just yesterday.
“We knew this trip (a mile) would be on the short side for him, but it was about trying to get him into the best rhythm possible and making sure he had a nice start to the season,” she said.
“He’s obviously a very special horse for all of us and I’m delighted to get his head in front after some pretty tough defeats.”