As a three-quarter sister to world champion Winx, four year-old Pride of Dubai mare Wings of Desire has always had the spotlight on her and she got back into the winner’s circle at Caulfield on Wednesday at her first run for new trainer Grahame Begg.
Retained to race by her owner breeder John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, Wings of Desire won her first two starts last year for Michael Freedman, but failed to win again in her next five starts, three of them coming in Group races.
Given a complete change of scene with her transfer to the Begg stable at Cranbourne, Wings of Desire won a recent trial at Caulfield and connections were optimistic of a good showing.
Ridden by Jordan Childs, Wings of Desire joined in at the furlong and kept up a good gallop to the line to win the 1200m Benchmark 70 event by half a length taking her overall record to three wins from eight starts with prizemoney topping $107,000.
Stable representative Rohan Hughes was delighted to get the win with such a profile addition to the stable.
“She's exquisitely bred and we’re very pleased for John Camilleri and all our team,” he said.
“It’s obviously her first preparation down here with us and she took a while to settle in, but Jack Lake initially and Bec Shanks, who have ridden her throughout her time with us, have done a very good job getting her into a good rhythm.
“Grahame was really happy with her coming here. She had a little jump out at Cranbourne and then came to a trial here the other day, and we thought she trialled quite nicely.
“She progressed really well from there, and Grahame just found the perfect race for her to kick off. She's a big striding mare. She drew out a little bit and with just one turn was able to get into a good rhythm and hold a good gallop all the way through to the line.
“She's a little bit quirky, and she's got a bit of attitude, but like I say, Grahame's been very happy with her progressing through to here, and I'm sure once she gets a run or two under her belt, she'll start to get into a better groove in herself.
“I’m sure Grahame will find a target race for her down the track to get a good result.”
Wings of Desire is the final foal from star producer Vegas Showgirl, who sadly passed away in 2023.
She is the sixth winner from six foals to race and is a three-quarter sister to $26.4million earner Winx (by Pride of Dubai’s sire Street Cry(IRE) and half-sister to Group III winners City of Lights and El Divino.
Given what we know about mares by Pride of Dubai and their propensity to get better and better with maturity, think Pride of Jenni and Bella Nipotina, it would be no surprise to see Wings of Desire blossom in her new environment.
Pride of Dubai is one of the best value sires in the Hunter Valley standing at a fee of $27,500 at Coolmore this spring.
Footnote: Wings of Desire was the second winner on Wednesday for Fairway Thoroughbreds with their $2.2million Inglis Easter purchase Plaintiff scoring on debut at Rosehill, read about her here.
