Maine Chance’s Oasis Dream stallion Querari gained another handsome boost to his pedigree page when his close nephew Spirit Dancer won the $2 million Gr2 Howden Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Legendary former Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson hit the back of the net again when his homebred won in front of a very appreciative crowd.
A son of Frankel, Spirit Dancer has now won three group races in three different countries.
Spirit Dancer stayed on strongly to land the Howden Neom Turf Cup under Oisin Orr (Pic – Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Mathea Kelley)
Seven-year-old Spirit Dancer, who has earned more than 1 700 000 pounds in stakes, is out of the Oasis Dream mare Queen’s Dream, a full-sister to Querari
Legendary former Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson hit the back of the net again when his homebred Spirit Dancer (GB) lifted the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup in front of a very appreciative crowd.
British raiders Jack Darcy (IRE) and Luxembourg (IRE) had ensured that there was plenty of pace in this 2100m race, which allowed the Oisin Orr-partnered Spirit Dancer to relax in mid-division.
As soon as they left the final bend, the jockey pulled him out and made his way up the straight.
With 200m to go, Luxembourg had the advantage but the Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer continued to accelerate and won the race comfortably by a length from Japanese raider Killer Ability (JPN). Calif (GER) finished third, followed further back by Luxembourg.
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Following a success in the Bahrain International Trophy in November, it took Spirit Dancer only 2:07.10 to bring the triumphant owners Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done into another winner’s enclosure in the Middle East.
Sir Alex Ferguson, breeder and co-owner said: “It’s fantastic, after Bahrain you come here and look at the field, the performance from Oisin and the horse and Richard, it’s unbelievable. Richard made the point he hasn’t had a lot of racing, and I think we see the evidence today. Oisin said this morning the horse is improving all the time. I took a gamble a few years ago with a stud in Hemel Hampstead and the results have been very good.
“That puts his win in Bahrain in perspective. Richard gave us confidence but it is one of these things, you are never too confident.”
A few hours earlier, Querari came up with his 42nd stakes winner when his progressive daughter Rainbow Lorikeet won the Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic run over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
