Dubawi sired his second new group winner in two weeks and 163rd overall when Prince Eiji (GB) got the job done over a sloppy main track in the 1600-metre $150,000 G3 Firebreak S. Presented By Longines. The first three home were all from the Doug Watson barn, as Everfast (Take Charge Indy) was 1 1/4 lengths back in second, a half-length to the good of Thegreatcollection (Saint Anddan) in third.
Several lengths off the pace in second as Ever Given (Kodi Bear {Ire}) opened up leaving the chute, Prince Eiji raced well off the fence to avoid the kickback over the sealed surface. He took dead aim on that foe at the half-way point and Sam Hitchcott let he loose leaving the bend. In front 300 metres out, he glided to the wire an easy winner, as Everfast and Thegreatcollection both made up ground in behind.
“Fantastic result,” said trainer Doug Watson, winning this race for the second time. “I'm very happy for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid [Al Maktoum, owner] to see Prince Eiji come back like that. I thought Sam [Hitchcott] sat in the perfect position all the way around as you just don't know how conditions like that are going to suit them.”
“He showed what he's capable of there,” added Hitchcott. “It was a difficult decision for Pat [Dobbs] to ride Everfast but I learned a lot from riding this horse last time. He's an athlete; he's very natural when it comes to switching his leads, which is what you need on the dirt.”
A winner of his Ascot debut all the way back in 2018, Prince Eiji made just three starts in 2022, but his yearly finale was a victory in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile at the beginning of December. The 7-year-old ran fifth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on the opening day of the Dubai World Cup Carnival earlier this month.
Pedigree Notes
Part of a legion of 249 stakes winners for Dubawi, Prince Eiji is the fourth group winner bred on the Dubawi/Pivotal cross with his victory on Friday. G2 Queen's Vase scorer Kemari (GB), G3 Prix de Flore victress Intimation (GB) and Desert Wisdom (GB), successful in the G3 Burj Nahaar, were earlier representatives. His dam, Classic-placed in the 2011 G1 Oaks, would go onto greater things as a 4-year-old, taking both the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Pretty Polly S. At stud, Izzi Top's second foal was the 1.9m gns Tattersalls October yearling turned stakes-placed Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}), with Prince Eiji her third, a 2.6m gns sale darling also during Book 1 in 2017. Her record currently stands at eight foals, with five to race and five winners. Her gelding of 2018, Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}), collected his black-type win in Bahrain. In 2021, she foaled an Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly, and her latest produce is a colt by Frankel (GB), born on Apr. 14, 2022.
Izzi Top is a half-sister to Grade III winner Emaraaty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and G2 Prix de la Nonette heroine Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who ran second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Their dam is the high class Group 1 winner Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic), herself a daughter of the G1 Irish Oaks-winning blue hen Colorspin (Fr) (High Top {Ire}).
Friday, Meydan, Dubai
FIREBREAK S. PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 1-27, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 8f, 1:39.06, sy.
1–PRINCE EIJI (GB), 126, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Izzi Top (GB) (G1SW-Fr & Ire, MGSW &
G1SP-Eng, $734,076), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Zee Zee Top (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Colorspin (Fr), by High Top (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (2,600,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Sheikh
Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB);
T-Doug Watson; J-Sam Hitchcott. $90,000. Lifetime Record:
MGSP-Eng, 19-3-3-2, $181,927. *1/2 to Willie John (GB)
(Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng; and Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}), SW-Bah,
$187,508. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Everfast, 126, g, 7, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 Ylg '17 KEEJAN). O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $30,000.
3–Thegreatcollection, 126, g, 9, Saint Anddan–Cactus Cadillac,
by Cactus Ridge. O-Zaur Sekrekov; B-Kathleen Amaya,
Alexandro Centofanti & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-Doug
Watson. $15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 2 1/4.
Also Ran: Ever Given (Ire), Law Of Peace (GB), Discovery Island (GB), Imperial Empire (GB), Mister Saint Paul (Fr). Click for the VIDEO.
The Prince reigns at Meydan
A classy performance from Prince Eiji who lands the G3 Firebreak Stakes Presented by Longines for Doug Watson & Sam Hitchcott #DWCCarnival | #DWC23 | #RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/b9IZSdKiaB
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 27, 2023
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