Sitting just off the Charles Fipke runner after leaving the chute, the chestnut edged closer as noses pointed for home. Refusing to give his rival a breather, the pair locked horns in earnest by the 600-metre mark. Throughout the stretch drive, it appeared that Tall Boy was moving the better of the duo, but Shirl's Bee was dogged against the fence and pushed him all the way through the final furlong, as the winner inched away late. Mr Raj (Bolt d'Oro) closed to take third.

“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 [G3] UAE Derby after that. Once we turned into the straight I felt him grow an inch and he gave me plenty in response.”

Although winless prior to his trip to Meydan, the colt has been slugged it out with some of the biggest names in the California 3-year-old division. He ran fifth when unveiled in the wake of 'TDN Rising Star' and subsequent dual Grade I-winning Juvenile Cave Rock (Arrogate) and Practical Move (Practical Joke) at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Dropped in for an $80,000 tag, he improved with a closing second in a maiden claimer still at the seaside oval on Sept. 5, and rallied for third behind fellow 'Rising Star' Spun Intended (Hard Spun) back in maiden special weight company there on Nov. 26. In his final start of 2022, Tall Boy ran fourth in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity to Practical Move in late December, and Friday's victory was O'Neill's second in the race after Fore Left (Twirling Candy) in 2020.

Pedigree Notes

Bred by Rockingham Ranch, the February-born colt was picked up by Calumet from Paramount Sales for just $40,000 as a Keeneland November weanling. He is the 72nd stakes winner for his GI Preakness S.-winning Coolmore Ashford sire. His unraced dam has fillies of 2021 and 2022 by Liam's Map, and Gun Runner, respectively. O'Neill signed for the former on behalf of Del Mar Group for $100,000 out of last autumn's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also from Paramount.

The second dam, the winning Golden Peach, by GI Belmont victor Touch Gold, is a half-sister to Grade III winners Squadron A (Unbridled's Song) and Belgravia (Mr. Greeley), as well as the three-time graded-placed Persuading (Broken Vow). Qualique (Hawaii {SAf}), out of fourth dam Dorothy Gaylord (Sensitivo {Arg}), claimed the GI Demoiselle S. in 1983.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE 2000 GUINEAS PRESENTED BY NAKHEEL-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 2-10, 3yo, 8f, 1:37.32, fs.
1–TALL BOY, 121, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
1st Dam: Madame Mayra, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Golden Peach, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Peaks Mill, by Stalwart
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. ($40,000 Wlg '20
KEENOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Rockingham Ranch (KY); T-Doug
O'Neill; J-William Buick. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-1-1,
$122,186. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shirl's Bee, 121, c, 3, Bee Jersey–Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul
(Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Charles
Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson. $30,000.
3–Mr Raj, 121, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Sonja's Angel, by Smoke
Glacken. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($70,000
RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; €86,773 2yo '22 GOFMAR). O-Ahmad
Bintooq Al Marri; B-John B. Penn (FL); T-Ahmad bin Harmash.
$15,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 9HF.
Also Ran: Legend Of Cannes, Eye On The Prize (Arg), Magic Petition, Talentum, Tiger Nation, Morning. Click for the Video.

Tall Boy scores for the US!

A gutsy performance from @DougONeill1's Tall Boy who sees off Shirl's Bee in a stirring finish to the Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas Presented by Nakheel under William Buick#DWCCarnival | #DWC23 | #RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/oBUnNXQXRA

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 10, 2023

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