Down On Da Bayou plays the right tune to emulate sibling in UAE Oaks

Down On Da Bayou added to a family which is fast becoming a Meydan fixture by becoming the second filly out of Bayou Tortuga to lift the UAE Oaks.

Four years ago it was the Doug Watson-trained Polar River who was carrying all before her, taking her winning streak to four in this Group 3 event and later running a solid second to Lani in the UAE Derby.

Down On Da Bayou turned in an astonishing performance over the extended nine furlongs on the dirt, making all under Mickael Barzalona and coasting 18 and a half lengths clear of hot favourite Dubai Love, who had beaten her quite soundly in last month's UAE 1,000 Guineas.

Polar River, who was by Congrats and bred by a partnership between Bob McCann, Mark Kelder and Doug Richards, was obtained for just $40,000 from the Ocala Spring Sale as a juvenile.

Her sibling, by Super Saver, has commanded a far higher fee through a few visits to the ring and was bought by Tally Ho Stud for $150,000 as a yearling at Keeneland.

She resurfaced at the Arqana May breeze-up, where Rabbah Bloodstock snapped her up for €190,000, and has won two of her five starts in the Gulf for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Salem bin Ghadayer.

"She’s an amazing filly. Before we had the question mark about the distance, but she showed her class," said the trainer, who has big plans ahead.

"At home, even when she had hard training, she wasn’t getting too tired. She’s an honest filly. It’s an owner’s decision [where she goes next].

"We entered her in the Saudi Derby and I asked my boss if we should go to this race and he said no problem.

"The next and last step for her this season I think will be next week [in Saudi Arabia]. The short time, but she always recovers quickly."

The Empire Maker mare Bayou Tortuga has also produced US Grade 3-placed Rare Form while Powerstown Stud bought her yearling son by Orb for £30,000 at Keeneland last September.

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