One Eye On Dubai Turns Heads

One Eye On Dubai (NZ) beat absolutely nothing of note in his 8.50-length drubbing of a small field in Race 5 over 2000m at the Vaal on Tuesday, but in time that may prove wholly irrelevant.

There was something about the purposeful way One Eye On Dubai galloped around the country track that would have had some racing fans hitting the ‘replay’ button. His rivals were off the bit before jockey Callan Murray had flexed a muscle, and if punters’ notebooks actually exist, his name will be in most of them by now.

“This horse seems to stay very well and looks to have a future over ground. It’s exciting for the team,” Murray said.

Mat de Kock said that One Eye On Dubai wasn’t setting the work track at Randjesfontein alight before his 1200m debut in August, but that he has made steady improvement since.

He commented: “It’s nice to see One Eye On Dubai deliver on the racetrack. He is a nice, young and progressive stayer. Well done to the whole Hollywood Racing team. Craig Ramsay bought him in New Zealand so he’s come a helluva long way to South Africa.

“It’s nice to be a recipient of such well-bred horses and thank you to everyone who puts so much time money and patience into it. Things are looking like paying off so we’re all very happy.”

One Eye On Dubai is by 2016 Cartier European Three-Year-old colt of the year, Almanzor, out of a mare by Exceed and Excel.

Devin Heffer of Hollywood Racing noted: “One Eye On Dubai was named by Mike de Kock in consideration of our older runner One Eye on Vegas, and after we’d decided to re-launch in Dubai.”