A compelling edition of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan on Friday saw Tall Boy, a maiden but fourth in a Grade 2 in California, face Shirl's Bee, believed to be one of the best 3-year-olds ever trained by Doug Watson.
A battle ensued between these two rivals in the straight, with Shirl's Bee and Pat Dobbs fighting hard along the rail but eventually having to concede defeat by a length to the more experienced Tall Boy and William Buick. It was a second UAE 2,000 Guineas for winning trainer Doug O'Neill, also successful in 2020 with Fore Left.
“We were going a good pace and I didn't expect to be where I was, as he struggled for pace early in America,” said Buick, winning this race for a third time. “He showed guts, good attitude and I expect connections will have one eye on the UAE Derby after that. Once we turned into the straight I felt him grow an inch and he gave me plenty in response.”
Bred in Kentucky by Rockingham Ranch, Tall Boy is out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare Madame Mayra. Calumet Farm purchased Tall Boy as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale for $40,000.
For O'Neill, Tall Boy made four starts in the United States, his best finish a second-place effort in an $80,000 maiden claimer at Del Mar. He also finished fourth in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.
The post ‘He Showed Guts’: O’Neill-Trained Tall Boy Breaks Maiden In UAE 2,000 Guineas appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
