The Australian connection was back in the spotlight at the Dubai carnival on Thursday evening when Reem and Monterosso were credited with black-type victories at Meydan.

The Mike De Kock trained filly Reem started the evening on a winning note for Australia when she was a five length winner of the Listed Al Bastakiya (1900m).

Reem (3f Galileo – Al Afreet by Danehill) had won the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial in January but had been runner-up at two subsequent runs behind stablemate Mahbooba (Galileo) in the UAE 1000 Guineas and Champion South African mare River Jetez (Jet Master) in the G2 Balanchine.

Reem was trained in Australia by David Payne and had opened her account at Warwick Farm last July.  She was also a close up fifth to More Strawberries in the G2 Furious Stakes at Randwick in September.

Her second dam Drama Of Life (Royal Academy) was bred by Robert Sangster and was a half-sister to Swettenham Stud’s Group 1 winners Rodrigo De Triano and Modigliani.

Monterosso was racing first-up in the G2 City Of Gold Stakes over 2400m and scored by over a length from stablemate Calvados Blues.  He was last seen finishing fifth in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2400m) at York in August.  

Monterosso (4c Dubawi – Porto Roca by Barathea) is now prepared by Mahmood Al Zarooni for Sheikh Hamdan.  He was previously trained by Mark Johnston to win the G2 King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot last year.

His dam Porto Roca was bred by Queenslanders Peter Moran and Ron Gilbert and she helped Danny O’Brien break into the big league with a Group 1 victory in the 2001 Coolmore Stakes at Rosehill.  She also won a Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm when it was still a Group 3 event.

At stud, Porto Roca foaled the winners Seven Stars (King’s Best), Via Corone (Zeditave) and Elusive Port (Elusive Quality) before being exported to Europe in December 2005.  Monterosso is her first northern hemisphere foal.