7th-Meydan, AED82,500, Maiden, 2yo, 1600m, 1:38.92, ft.
SHIRL'S BEE (c, 2, Bee Jersey–Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul {Ire}) was the subject of some pre-race buzz and turned in a tough debut effort to stamp himself one to watch in next year's 3-year-old events in Dubai. Nicely into stride from gate two, the homebred colt appeared set to challenge for the lead at the rail, but was taken hold of by Pat Dobbs and immediately began to overrace. More settled as they raced past the half-mile marker, Shirl's Bee faced a potentially adverse set of circumstances when between rivals and on his incorrect lead with about 300 meters to race, but he rebroke as soon as he kicked over to his right leg and showed battling qualities from there to best Lahresh (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. “He's very professional at home, a naturally quick horse,” said Dobbs. “He'll get further but I'm not sure if he'll get further yet. He's better looking than his dad [Bee Jersey, who Dobbs also rode].” Shirl's Bee is the seventh first-crop winner for her Fipke homebred sire (by Jersey Town), who made the first four starts of his career for this trainer at this venue, finishing runner-up to Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in 2017. That same event, to be contested Feb. 10, 2023, could be the next target for Shirl's Bee, who is closely related to Spikes Shirl (Speightstown), MSP, $336,277. The winner is out of an unraced full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare upsetter Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) won this year's GI Maker's Mark Mile and was the recent runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Shirl's Soul is the dam of a yearling full-sister to Shirl's Bee and foaled a Speightstown colt earlier this year before being bred back to Bee Jersey. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,479. —Alan Carasso
O/B-Charles E Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson.
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