Poker Face, Tuz shine as Meydan welcomes New Year

Meydan’s Sword of Honour racenight produced a battle worthy of the name when Poker Face edged out Holloway Boy in the featured G2 Zabeel Mile.

The Simon and Ed Crisfordtrained six-year-old was having his first Meydan run and was also ridden for the first time by Pat Dobbs, who timed his challenge impeccably. Racing in mid-division for much of the race, Dobbs was able to squeeze through a small gap and produce Poker Face right on the line to deny British raider Holloway Boy by a nose.

“I thought I was beaten!” said Dobbs. “I said well done to Danny Tudhope [on Holloway Boy] pulling up, so that’s a nice surprise.

“We got racing from three [furlongs, 600m] out and I had a lovely position to keep things smooth with him. I got in behind William [Buick, on Noble Dynasty] halfway down the back and I was happy with where I was then. I thought a furlong out we’d pick up William and then I saw Danny on the other side was probably half a length in front of me.

“This horse has improved as a six-year-old.”

Tuz has become one of the leading lights of UAE racing and the sprinting superstar racked up his third win in a row in the G3 Dubawi Stakes – becoming just the second horse to win it twice, after Reynaldothewizard.