UAE DERBY (GROUP 2)

IRISHMAN Brendan Walsh, who spent a decade working with the Godolphin team in Dubai before heading to the USA, saw a long-held dream come true when his first runner in Dubai, Plus Que Parfait, won the $2.5 million UAE Derby sponsored by the Saaed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Under a perfect ride by Jose Ortiz, winning his second race on the Dubai World Cup card in as many tries, Plus Que Parfait earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in May. The son of Point Of Entry found racing room in the field of 14 at the top of the straight and, after the rider switched him to the inside, he accelerated and dug in to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Plus Que Parfait (more than perfect in French) denied another American runner, the Peter Miller-trained Gray Magician, by three-parts of a length to win the nine and a half furlong classic and boost his winnings to just short of $2 million.

Aidan O’Brien’s Van Beethoven missed the break and raced wide, finishing a disappointing ninth.

Brendan Walsh was ecstatic following the race, saying: “This is huge – Jose gave him such a great ride and what a night for him with two winners.

“This has been the plan for quite a while and his owners are based out here. We said if things didn’t work out to get to the Kentucky Derby then we would come here. He had a bad day the last time he ran but we didn’t hold it against him and it has worked out. Brilliant.”

Jose Ortiz added: “I am very happy and very happy for Brendan. He deserves it. Brendan, he works so hard and he gave me so many shots and we haven’t been lucky and now I was able to deliver for him. To win means a lot.”