ONE of Tasmania’s leading reinsmen Ricky Duggan confirmed six-year-old gelding Flying Dubai as a “horse with a future” after he scored a convincing all-the-way win in a C2-C3 pace over 2090 metres in Hobart on Sunday night.
Flying Dubai showed good gate speed to cross from gate four and despite being attacked for the lead in the first 600 metres and again in the back straight the last time he was able to forge clear over the concluding stages.
The gelded son of Resurgent Dragon hit the line almost 10 metres clear of Hydehurst Boy with the favourite Aapennon two metres away third.
Flying Dubai has only recently been transferred to the care of ace mentor Maurice Keating who prepares the gelding for Victorian Betty Dove.
He was trained by Brendan Pursell but when his distribution business flourished he was forced to relinquish his commitment to training pacers.
Keating said the horse came to him “ready made”.
“I didn’t have to do anything out of the ordinary with this horse because he came to me in great order about eight weeks ago,” Keating said.
“He is a nice type and given the way he won tonight I’d say there are more wins in store,” he said.
Flying Dubai is fed traditional feed but on race night be is given a treat by his connections consisting of a sugar coated jam donut.
“He loves them (donuts) so as a treat after he races I offer him a donut and he usually eats a whole one,” said the owner’s daughter Lynne Pursell.
Flying Dubai is likely to face the starter again in Launceston next Sunday night.
Listen to what driver Ricky Duggan had to say about Flying Dubai’s latest win – click here.