Dobbs spurs Active Spirit past Blue Creek

Dubai - Trainer Doug Watson and stable jockey Pat Dobbs combined to land two of the first three races on the Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group racecard.

Active Spirit, wearing a visor for the first time and making all in a 1,600m handicap denied hot favourite, Godolphin's Kentucky Derby-nominated, Blue Creek in the horse race meeting at the Meydan, Saturday evening.
Trainer Doug Watson and stable jockey Pat Dobbs combined to land two of the first three races on the Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group racecard. They completed the double to provide arguably the biggest shock of the season so far.
Seeking to add to his course and distance maiden victory over Tobaco on New Year's Day, the Charlie Appleby-trainer runner was slowly away under William Buick who was niggling his mount before halfway. Blue Creek did stay on to snatch second, overhauling Taqneen in the straight but Dobbs and Active Sprit were not for catching.
"The visor's obviously sharpened him up a lot," said Dobbs. "He jumped quite good and I gave him a squeeze to make sure he did stay out in front which set him alight and he was over racing for the first little while but he settled and he was fine."
Active Spirit pulled a shoe off in his last race, contributing to a 10th-place finish, behind Stormadal on New Year's Day. "He won his maiden by six lengths," said Dobbs. "You don't win a maiden by six lengths unless you have ability. I was impressed with him."
Active Spirit's owners, the Emirates Entertainment Racing Club syndicate were understandably delighted.
"We thought he would run well," said spokesman, Justin Byrne. "We wanted to be positive on him today (Saturday) and so put a visor on and Pat (Dobbs) has done everything right.
"We were planning to step him up in trip but will have to think about that now as Pat said the visor really worked."
The Watson-Dobbs double was initiated by Tobaco in the preceding 1,200m dirt maiden and the horse looked likely to appreciate further in time. A Meydan trial winner, Tobaco has subsequently been second in both his previous official starts, most recently behind Blue Creek over 1,600m.
Stalking the pace, Dobbs pulled his mount out to challenge early in the straight with the pair leading 200m from home and posting a comfortable win.
"He is a nice young horse," said Watson. "He obviously bumped into a good one last time and should improve for the extra experience and stepped back up in trip."