Desert Voice dropped in distance and found the stakes race he was looking for
The Al Adiyaat colt won the Rival Dan at La Plata with a resolute late run, even after William Pereyra dropped his whip; it was his first stakes victory in his seventh attempt
LA PLATA.— The 2,000 meters had proved too long, and 1,500 meters ended up being the exact right distance. Desert Voice dropped back in trip, recovered his best form, and conquered the Clásico Rival Dan, Saturday's other feature race at La Plata. In his seventh stakes attempt, the Stud Al Adiyaat colt earned the reward for a campaign in which he had already shown quality.
Conditioned by Juan Franco Saldivia and ridden by William Pereyra, the son of Dabster entered off a fourth-place finish in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3) over 2,000 meters, 12 1/2 lengths behind Cahuel Win (Gershwin). A clear sign that insisting on the longer route was unwise. His two previous victories had come over 1,400 meters at Palermo, the same distance over which he finished runner-up to The Great Terms (The Great Day) in the Clásico Pedro E. y Manuel A. Crespo (G3).
The decision to shorten the distance proved spot on. Desert Voice settled third while Vertiginoso (Japan) and Henry the Champ (Puerto Escondido) disputed the lead. Both reached the stretch still locked in that duel, but the eventual winner was waiting for the moment to change gears.
William Pereyra guided him toward the middle of the track, and the response came immediately. Desert Voice closed ground, reached the leaders, and took control in the final furlong. Not even the loss of the whip by his jockey in full stretch throw off his stride: he maintained his momentum all the way to the wire and won with authority.
One length back came Sunny Thunder (Dubai Thunder), who rallied to claim second place. Another 3/4 of a length behind stood Vertiginoso, while Henry the Champ rounded out the superfecta by a nose. Both put in a commendable effort despite the toll exacted by their early pace battle.
The clock showed 1m31s08/100 for the 1,500 meters over wet dirt, a time 25 hundredths faster than that posted by Cancha Rayada (Strategos) in the Clásico República de Ecuador run a short while earlier. Desert Voice paid $2.20 per peso, scoring his third win in 9 starts—his first outside Palermo and his first in stakes company.
Bred by Al Adiyaat Argentina, the dark bay is a son of Dabster and the Irish import Princesses Voice, by Poet's Voice, with Dubawi and Giant's Causeway in his maternal line. He is also a half-brother to Asian Princess (Asiatic Boy), winner of two races and third in the Clásico Fernández Guerrico (G2). A family that belongs to the broodmare band of the operation associated with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
It was no ordinary victory: it arrived after repeatedly testing himself in demanding contests, including the Gran Criterium (G1), the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1), and other graded events. Now, with his first stakes win in the bag, Desert Voice has a clear blueprint for the future: when the distance fits his capabilities, his finishing kick can make all the difference.
