With only three rivals, precocious little filly Platinum Dubai won’t be hard to spot at Otaki
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.
More news in Gallops
Money comes for Platinum Attack with the promise of better footing at Trentham
Lisa: It’s a hot field but Platinum Attack’s not out of it - and the $23 odds are very tasty
Lisa: Attack’s been practising right-handed and can run a cheeky race in the Railway
First the draw now the weather threatens to sabotage Platinum Attack’s Telegraph bid
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”

Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”