KEVIN STRIKES GOLD

Former Melbourne Racing Club committeeman and leading breeder, Kevin Heffernan, has the Midas touch and his exciting 3YO, Gold in Dubai, continues adding to the honour roll.

A son of Desert Sun from the Rory’s Jester mare, Rory’s Song, Kevin races the mare in partnership with trainer Mark Riley and watched as Gold in Dubai led rivals a merry dance to win the MRC Privileges Plate (1200m) with close on two lengths to spare.

Jockey Mark Pegus excitedly told connections that “he just gave me a great feel from the moment he left the gates” and it was great to see the speedy son of Desert Sun back in the winners’ circle.

Gold in Dubai won the Blue Sapphire Stakes-LR over this course and distance just over 12 months previously and, although he has run multiple placings at Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Flemington, first prize had eluded him.

Mark told Racenet that Gold In Dubai’s win was made all the more meritorious by the fact the son of Desert Sun pulled up distressed from his last run at Caulfield on 2 May.

“I don’t know why it wasn’t reported in the stewards’ report but he pulled up with signs of colic after his last run and he was really sick the night of the race,” Mark pointed out. “But he got over it really well and has been good since. He’s such an immature horse that will just go from strength to strength as he gets older.”

One of 30 stakeswinners for Desert Sun (who is also emerging as a promising broodmare sire), Gold in Dubai is from a solid black type family with North American, British and Japanese ‘form’.

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The Herald Sun's Matt Stewart is one of finest racing scribes and gets right to the guts of a story. Check out his article on Mark Riley in the Herald Sun on 27 May. Click here.