Heart of Honor wins again on road to Dubai World Cup
The Tweenhills-born, raised and grazed Heart of Honor took some notable scalps with a win in the Listed The Entisar Sponsored by Emaar on dirt at Meydan last Friday and increasingly looks a contender for the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup there on March 28.
Heart of Honor has now won four of his 10 starts, with all his successes coming from eight runs at Meydan. He had no trouble landing a conditions race at the track in November on his return to action and upped his level again to beat a select field in The Entisar, albeit not after given his connections a scare by coming off the bridle a fair way out. He showed remarkable fighting spirit to get ahead in the final furlong.
Some of those safely behind Heart of Honor were last March’s Gr.2 Al Maktoum Classic runner-up Artorius and Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge winners Walk of Stars and Kabirkhan. Walk of Stars had finished 4th in last April’s Dubai World Cup so it’s clear Heart of Honor is a genuine Dubai World Cup player.
Runner-up in the Gr.2 UAE Derby last April, this was Heart of Honor’s first Stakes success. He’s a hard horse to watch as he’s often slowly away but comes with a late rattle as he did in The Entisar.
Winning trainer Jamie Osborne told Racing TV: “Never in doubt! I was dying a death down the back, but he shows how tough he is, how much he wants it and how well he stays, all credit to him. It was a big step up for him and the dream is still alive.”
Heart of Honor has been ridden on seven of his starts by the trainer’s daughter Saffie Osborne. The only time Heart of Honor has run in the UK was when an eye-catching 2nd under Saffie at Southwell on 2yo debut but entered the world at Tweenhills on April 29, 2022.
His dam, Champion Chilean 2yo Ruby Love, was bought by David Redvers for $90,000 at the Keeneland November Sale carrying a son of Honor A. P. You guessed it, that foal became Heart of Honor, selling for 35,000gns as a foal, €42,000 as a yearling and €160,000 as a breezer.
Following in the hoofprints of Heart of Honor is his half-brother by Zoustar, Brotherly Love, also bred by David Redvers and born at Tweenhills. He also caught the eye on his 2yo debut and has finished 2nd on both starts at Meydan for the Osbornes and Heart of Honor’s owners Jim and Claire Limited.
Tweenhills sold a filly foal by Havana Grey out of Ruby Love for 80,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2024, and there’s a current colt foal by Kameko out of the mare.