‘He showed grit’: O’Neill-trained tall boy beats maiden in UAE 2,000 Guineas – Racing News

Tall Boy, the No. 4 teenage California State 2 in the G3 Emirates 2000 Guineas on Friday in Meydan, will face Shirl’s Bee, considered the best Doug Watson has ever trained. Nice one for 3 year olds.

The two rivals got into a battle on the straights with Shirl’s Bee and Pat Dobbs battling it out on the track but had to lose by a stroke to the more experienced Tall Boy and William Buick. It was the second Emirates 2,000 guinea win for coach Doug O’Neill, who also achieved success with the former left in 2020.

“We had good speed and I didn’t expect to be where I am because he was fighting for speed early on in the U.S.,” said Buick, who won the race for the third time. “He showed courage and a good attitude and I hope people will pay attention to the Emirates derby after that. As soon as we turned into the straight, I felt an inch in him and he gave me a lot of response.”

Tall Boy was bred by Rockingham Ranch in Kentucky from non-race Scat Daddy mare Madame Mayra. Calumet Farm purchased Tall Boy as a weaner for $40,000 at the Keeneland November auction.

For O’Neill, the tall boy has competed four times in the United States, with his best finish being a second-place finish in the $80,000 debut event in Del Mar. He also finished fourth in G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.