Platinum Star swoops late in Dubai Trophy

Platinum Star produced a storming run to get up near the line in the Dubai Trophy over six furlongs on turf at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 9 January.

The three-year-old colt, a Listed winner and G2 runner-up for Saeed bin Suroor during a productive juvenile campaign in the UK, was slowly away and raced at the rear of the 15 runners under Christophe Soumillon early on.

Platinum Star started to make good headway down the centre of the course at the halfway point but still had six rivals in front of him approaching the final furlong. He continued to make relentless progress in the closing stages, collaring Hamama in the final strides for a neck verdict.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Platinum Star couldn’t go with the rest of the field and found himself too far back. I told Christophe Soumillon to keep him handy if he could but, the more he asked of Platinum Star, the more he went forward. He was travelling well in the end and won nicely.

“He is a class horse, who has run well at Group level, and this was only a trial to make him ready for some of the coming races. We will keep the options open and see how he is over the next three or four days before finding a nice race for him.”

Christophe Soumillon said: “Platinum Star was not entirely fit today and unfortunately he missed the start because he was a bit naughty in the gates, so I lost maybe five or six lengths.

“It was not easy to make up ground and he was very genuine in the last 300 metres. I thought the horse in front of me was going to get it, but he kept going all the way and got there in the last few strides. It is encouraging for the future.

“He is very relaxed and, given the ground is quite soft today, it looks like he can go further. The question now is are we staying on the turf or going on the dirt for the UAE Derby. That is the next thing to think about.”