Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful DISCREET CAT (Forestry) scored a resounding
victory at Nad al Sheba on Thursday in his three-year-old debut for Godolphin.
Having first stamped himself as a serious prospect when landing his debut at
Saratoga last August, the bay colt confirmed that impression with a facile
four-length triumph in the one-mile conditions event in a solid time of 1:35
4/5.
With Frankie Dettori aboard, Discreet Cat was reserved off the steady early
tempo of :24 3/5 and :47 3/5. Traveling sweetly into second through six furlongs
in 1:11 2/5, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee seized command near the eighth pole
and proved much the best while crossing the wire under restraint. His six
rivals were no match, with Golden Acer (Elnadim) faring the best of the
remainder in second, four lengths behind Discreet Cat.
“He won well, and we are really pleased with him,” Godolphin racing manager
Simon Crisford said. “It was a nice race to start him off in, and we are now
going to step him right up in class in the UAE Derby (UAE-G2) (March 25) and see
what happens there.”
Discreet Cat is now a perfect two-for-two with earnings of $46,500. As a
juvenile, he raced as a homebred for Mrs. E. Paul Robsham. In his only start for
trainer Stan Hough, he captured a six-furlong Saratoga maiden by 3 1/2 lengths
in 1:09 3/5. The runner-up on that occasion was the Nick Zito-trained Superfly (Fusaichi
Pegasus), who came right back to win the Whirling Ash S. in his next start.
After Discreet Cat’s impressive maiden victory, he was purchased by Godolphin
and took up his winter quarters in Dubai. The sophomore is out of 1995 Alabama
S. (G1) heroine Pretty Discreet (Private Account), who is herself out of a full
sister to 1987 Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Buryyourbelief (Believe It). Pretty
Discreet has also produced multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Pretty Wild
(Wild Again).