Dubai Poet clings on to victory in Christmas Handicap at Morphettville

The phrase ‘deserved win’ is often tossed around, but for Dubai Poet, a triumph in the Christmas Handicap was exactly that.

Dubai Poet, ridden by Todd Pannell, wins the Christmas Handicap at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

The phrase ‘deserved win’ is often tossed around, but for Dubai Poet, a triumph in the Christmas Handicap was exactly that.

First-up from a spell, the gelding clung to an impressive win in Saturday’s Listed feature over 1200m, guided to the line under a typically classy steer from jockey Todd Pannell.

It was third-time lucky for Dubai Poet, who had been denied in the Balaklava and Murray Bridge Cups last preparation – finishing a narrow runner-up on both occasions.

The win capped a brilliant training effort from Michael Hickmott, who trained the European import to his first win over 1200m in his fifth start for the stable.

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“That’s as thrilled I’ve been after a win,” stable representative Josh Hickmott said.

“These owners have been, it’s hard to say frustrated, because we bought him for $80,000 on an Inglis Digital Online Sale and he’s run two placings in Listed races, but (they were) pretty agonising beats, hitting the front and getting mowed down.

“What a ride by Todd, he just extricated him at the perfect time.”

Dubai Poet hits the lead in the concluding stages & clings on to win 🎶 pic.twitter.com/nDW5xDRf1P

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 28, 2024

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The result secured a double for the Hickmott-Pannell combination, after the duo combined earlier in the card with Anotherhouse in a Class 2 Handicap (1200m).

Gun hoop Manoel Nunes landed the first blow of Saturday’s nine-race card, giving Shadow Eagle a faultless run from a wide gate in the opening race for trainer Byron Cozamanis.

The breakthrough win was extra satisfying for connections, given they only paid $2000 for the gelding, who is out of dam Lateva – a four-time race winner that Cozamanis and owners previously raced.

“I used to train his mother, we bought him online for $2000. He’s been a good buy,” Cozamanis said.

“They (owners) sold the mare, then he bought the mare back, then he bought the foal back online – he’d be very happy about that.”

Arugamama set a slow early tempo & sprinted clear of her rivals for a comprehensive victory 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/fs7gwtSTvI

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 28, 2024

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Taylor Johnstone is enhancing her reputation by the week, and on a day where on-pacers dominated, the talented apprentice produced back-to-back frontrunning masterclasses, the first of those coming in a 2500m handicap aboard Arugamama for Andrew Gluyas.

“Obviously there was no speed in the race, at the end of the day I was happy to lead, happy to have a bum, keep her where she’s comfortable and in a rhythm,” Johnstone said.

“I didn’t want to her hold her up and have her fighting against me. I just opted to go to the front and have her bowl along at her own tempo and she kept quickening into the race, on the corner I was never in doubt of getting beat.

“She gave me an actually unreal feeling, she picked up underneath me and electrified to the line – it was very impressive by her.”

Johnstone implemented similar tactics in the following race, and while she wasn’t handed the lead as easily, she settled the Shane and Cassie Oxlade-trained Nasho comfortably in front, opening up a five-length buffer at the top of the straight en route to a commanding win in a Benchmark 78 (1800m).

Nasho makes every post a winner in SA! ✅ pic.twitter.com/kxg2803efx

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 28, 2024

Johnstone, who moved to SA from Tasmania in June, ended the day on a high, securing a metro treble after piloting Kinetic Jewel to victory in the final race.

“It’s really special, I’m really proud of where I’ve come, it was always a scary move (to SA),” she said.

“To come over here and ride winners constantly is a big achievement.”

Johnstone took home riding honours on the card, while Jacob Opperman joined Pannell with a riding double.

Originally published as Dubai Poet clings on to victory in Christmas Handicap at Morphettville