Jamie Osborne may be gearing up for a spot in the Dubai World Cup following Heart of Honor’s impressive late surge to secure a significant victory at the Emaar-hosted Entisar race. Last winter in Dubai, Heart of Honor clinched two wins and nearly captured three major races, including the UAE Derby, before heading to the U.S. to compete in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
The horse, victorious again at Meydan last month, claimed his first stakes win in the Middle East with grit, overcoming a slow start to outpace competitors like Artorius (second) and last year’s World Cup fourth-place finisher Walk of Stars (fourth), finishing powerfully under Saffie Osborne. “There’s no doubt about it,” Osborne remarked about the thrilling finish, “I was exhausted, but he showed incredible toughness, desire, and staying power. He deserves all the credit. This was a big step for him, and the dream is still alive.” Osborne added, “It’s up to the racetrack to judge improvements, and tonight he certainly demonstrated that.”
In the turf feature race, Charlie Appleby celebrated another Group 2 victory at the Al Rashidiyah Emaar event, as Opera Baro displayed outstanding form. The dual listed winner led Moulton Paddox’s stablemates Nations Pride and First Conquest to a 1-2-3 finish, with jockey William Buick aboard. Appleby commented, “His biggest challenge is calming himself down before the race. With good pace, William was able to settle him behind another horse.” He noted, “Opera Baro is a tough character—laid back at home but transforms when racing. The team did an excellent job, and William was confident situating him well. We saw the Opera Baro we hoped for.”
Appleby added, “He’s ready to progress, and the natural next step is the Jebel Hatta. Hopefully, we’ll see if he’s good enough to be a contender for the World Cup night.” Appleby and Buick also scored with Mysterious Night, who returned to winning ways in the Listed Business Bay Challenge hosted by Emaar. After running well at Meydan earlier this year, Buick delivered a powerful ride to overtake Khanjar, with rival Malvern finishing third. Trainer Appleby said, “The horse has prepared well. Though he’s been a steady performer here without many standout moments, tonight was his chance to shine.”
He continued, “Thanks to the horse, rider, and team for maintaining his fitness. I was confident in his condition, but winning is never guaranteed. It will be interesting to see if William opts to keep him at this distance or step up to the Zabeel Mile.” Appleby and Buick also triumphed at the Dubai Racing Club Classic hosted by Emaar, with Buick achieving a remarkable four-win streak on ‘Fashion Friday’, including the Listed El Tijar Dubai Dash for Simon and Ed Crisford’s cover-up.
Fan Take: This news highlights some exciting emerging talent and solid performances from established contenders, signaling a thrilling build-up to the Dubai World Cup. For horse racing enthusiasts, it promises intense competition and showcases the global caliber of horses converging in Dubai, elevating the sport’s profile worldwide.
