Deserved Group 1 Breakthrough For Boughey’s Believing Coolmore Debut

[Wandering Eyes]

You don't always get what you deserve in life. Just take a look at Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) for example. George Boughey's razor-sharp sprinter had gone agonisingly close to breaking her duck at the highest level three times last season and those closest to her must have been thinking if her turn would ever come.

Beaten but unbowed, Believing showed the world what she is capable of in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, going some way in justifying Coolmore's 3 million gns investment at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale. 

Believing may have been a deserving breakthrough winner at the highest level but by God did she have to work for it under William Buick. Poking up the inner, the five-year-old kept on best to better Japanese runner Win Carnelian (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) with Ed Bethell's Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) back in third. 

A delighted Buick said afterwards, “George was really bullish about her before the race-her prep has been faultless. This is a lucky spare ride for me. Ryan [Moore] was meant to ride her, [but] obviously he was in Australia this morning and I stepped in.”

He added, “The filly was very tough. She really deserved to get that Group 1. She showed there what she's all about-she really knuckled down. Fair play to George in his team for having her in tip-top shape for tonight.”

With Boughey and his partner at home awaiting the birth of their first child, assistant trainer Henry Morshead was on duty and said, “Her preparation into this has been very strong and her gate-work has been good all winter, which was a concern coming from Del Mar last time [where she was withdrawn at the start]. But God she's tough, she really sticks her head down, she's a real testament to the hard work everyone puts in at home.”

Morshead added, “It's hugely special and Coolmore are unbelievably straightforward to deal with. We're hugely honoured to have her in the yard this year as a five-year-old.”

Pedigree Notes

Last year was a momentous one for Mehmas (Ire), who broke fellow Tally-Ho Stud resident Kodiac's long-standing record for the greatest number of juvenile winners achieved in a year. Such an achievement played a role in the stallion's stud fee justifiably rising from €50,000 to €70,000 this year. The success of Believing here could set the tone for what is shaping up to be a hugely exciting season for the stallion, who has a number of top-class prospects–including Classic contenders–to look forward to. Mehmas is now internationally recognised as a top-class stallion and Believing, who justified Coolmore's 3 million gns investment at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, is also another high-profile graduate from that sales company's Craven Breeze-Up Sale. She is bred on the same Mehmas-Kodiac (GB) line that has also produced Wes Acre (Ire), who has been something of a revelation in Dubai over the past few months, but could only manage eighth when stepped back up to 6f in this race. As for Believing, she is out of an unraced sister to dual Group 3-winning sprinter Miss Sally (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}).

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
AL QUOZ SPRINT (SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS)-G1, $1,500,000, Meydan, 4-5, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.77, gd.
1–BELIEVING (IRE), 127, m, 5, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Misfortunate (Ire), by Kodiac (GB)
2nd Dam: Evictress (Ire), by Sharp Victor
3rd Dam: Nurse Jo, by J. O. Tobin
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (70,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 115,000gns
2yo '22 TATAPR; 3,000,000gns HRA '24 TATDEC). O-Mrs J
Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Resolute; B-M Mullen &
Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-William Buick.
$870,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 5-7f, GSW
& G1SP-Ire & Fr, MSW & MG1SP-Eng, 25-7-5-4, $1,654,053.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Win Carnelian (Jon), 131, h, 8, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Cosmo
Crystal (Jpn), by Meiner Love. *1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
O-Win Company Ltd; B-Cosmo View Farm (JPN); T-Yuichi
Shikato. $300,000.
3–Regional (GB), 131, g, 7, Territories (Ire)–Favulusa (GB), by
Dansili (GB). (35,000gns Wlg '18 TATDEC; 120,000gns Ylg '19
TATOCT; 3,500gns HRA '21 TATJUL). O-Future Champions
Racing Regional; B-Razza del Sole Societa Agricola SRL (GB);
T-Edward Bethell. $150,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Danon Mckinley (Jpn), Puro Magic (Jpn), Marbaan (GB), Quinault (Ger), West Acre (Ire), Audience (GB), Isivunguvungu (SAf). DNF: Howdeepisyourlove (Aus).
Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

Seeing is

George Boughey's speedball cuts loose in the @AziziGroup Al Quoz Sprint in the ultra-capable hands of William Buick #DWC25 | @emirates pic.twitter.com/LkM2DuPHJ9

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) April 5, 2025

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