EquilateralA 1000m turf handicap upgraded to Listed status this year, the $175,000 Dubai Dash sponsored by JAFZA, was turned into a procession by Equilateral, giving weight to all bar one of his seven rivals. Homebred by Prince Khaled Abdulla and a first UAE winner for Charlie Hills, the 5-year-old son of Equiano was gelded over the summer having shown decent form in good sprints in Europe, including four victories, highlighted by a Listed success at Doncaster last September. He was also a good second to champion Mabs Cross in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last May. Confidently ridden by James Doyle, who actually tucked him back into traffic just after halfway so strongly was he travelling, before cruising up to early leader Caspian Prince and Waddy, who may have led briefly before Doyle’s mount swept past at the 200m pole after which the race was over as a contest.
“He arrived just before the New Year and has really taken to the place, the weather and the routine and when James sat on him for the first time at the weekend he was very impressed,” Hills said. “He has taken on a lot of the top sprinters in Europe and we think gelding him has really helped. He will probably come back here in four weeks and has options on Super Saturday, Dubai World Cup night and in Saudi Arabia, so we have plenty to consider.”
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