Arab Dawn has added his name to the list of winning Godolphin imports with victory in the Listed Parramatta Cup.
While trainer John O’Shea is certainly not putting him the class of Group One winners Hartnell and Contributer, he is nevertheless pleased with his latest arrival from England.
Arab Dawn had had one Australian start before Saturday’s 1900m race at Rosehill when unplaced on a soft track.
“He is a horse who has won at Ascot which is usually pretty firm so we were pretty sure he would appreciate the track today,” O’Shea said.
“He hasn’t been here long but he arrived nice and fit.
“I don’t think we will push too far in the autumn. He could be a nice horse for the Metropolitan in the spring.”
Arab Dawn ($15) was the lesser fancied of two Godolphin runners with Allergic the $3.60 favourite.
But the big grey gelding powered home to beat Allergic by three-quarters of a length with New Zealander Hasselhoof ($3.80) another neck third.
Christian Reith rode Arab Dawn and was impressed with his tenacity.
“He has plenty of ability,” he said.
“And even though he got the run he still had to produce the acceleration to take it.”
