Congrats filly Polar River produced an amazing debut at Meydan on Thursday evening with a 13 length victory in the Longines Conquest Classic (1200m).
The USA bred two year-old blitzed a field of seasoned sprinters clocking 1.10.87s. That’s just 0.23s outside the track-record held by last year’s G1 Golden Shaheen winner Secret Circle.
Polar River (2f Congrats – Bayou Tortuga by Empire Maker) led from an inside gate until Quiet Diplomacy (New Approach) ranged up on the home turn. The five year-old gelding challenged briefly before the filly went into overdrive with a flying 22.66s sectional for the final furlong.
“She’s very useful,” jockey Sam Hitchcott said in the understatement of the season so far in Dubai. “It was a very good performance, especially first time out. It would be nice to think she will build on this and hopefully she is a filly with a big future.”
Polar River arrived in the Gulf after making $40,000 at the Ocala 2YO Sale in April 2015. Her dam Bayou Tortuga is a half-sister to the stakes winners Tortuga Straits, Tortuga Flats and Lightsnatcher.
The mare has a yearling filly by Flatter that made $100,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale and her weanling colt by The Factor was knocked down for $200,000 at the Keeneland November sale.
Congrats (A P Indy) has 17 yearlings catalogued for the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January. He has a half-brother to 2015 South African Champion 2YO Filly Entisaar (Lot 521) and a colt from G1 Queensland Oaks winner Crystal Palace (Lot 937)
The Congrats fillies are headed by the half-sister to LR Wyong Magic Millions winner Zoutenant (Lot 861) and the chestnut from a Fusaichi Pegasus half-sister to G2 Challenge Stakes winner Light Up The World (Lot 866).
Video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwv19G9DqR0&feature=player_embedded
