Wild Place turns Meydan tables on Silent Speech and Home City

Wild Place reversed the form with Silent Speech and Home City as the trio once again fought out the finish at Meydan in the Al Wasl Stakes on week six of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, Friday, 18 February.

All three had previously lined up over the same six-furlong trip in the Dubai Trophy in January, when Silent Speech comfortably beat Home City, with Wild Place finishing third on just her second start.

After breaking slowest of the 10 runners, Wild Place was held up in last early on, with Home City tracking Bin Askar in second and Silent Speech covered up in midfield.

Home City took up the running on the bridle approaching the final quarter-mile but was soon challenged on both sides before Silent Speech hit the front over a furlong from home.

Wild Place made good headway into the race and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained filly quickened powerfully under Pat Cosgrave to head Silent Speech well inside the final furlong.

Silent Speech rallied on the line, with Wild Place holding on by a short-head as the front two pulled three lengths clear of Home City.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Wild Place was very weak last year. We did not want to rush her and she has come forward with time but, even if you stand close to her now, there is nothing there.

“She has plenty of speed and the trip tonight suited. She will learn more from this race.

“There are no more races for her here in Dubai and we will take her back to Newmarket now. She will have a break and then come back in April or May for her next run.”

Pat Cosgrave said: “Wild Place is a little bit tricky as you saw going out on to the track and going down.

“I was drawn next to William Buick on Silent Speech and he was the one to beat. He sort of fell out of the stalls and I fell out of the stalls as well, but we were going a nice gallop and I thought I would follow him for as far as I can.

“I thought I had got there too soon because she was pulling up with me in front and I wasn’t sure if William had got back to me on the line.

“Usually, fillies with her temperament are quite tough and can take a hard race whereas that isn’t always the case with quieter fillies. Sometimes it is good for a filly to be a bit like that.”