He is back and appears better than ever, but how good that is on the racetrack in actual competition, only soon-to-be 5-year-old Hit the Bid knows. Owned by Straight to Victory Syndicate, the English-bred and Irish-trained turf sprinter physically looks on point while galloping around the Meydan oval ahead of his planned start on opening night, Jan. 3, in the 1000m turf sprint handicap for horses rated 95-110. Trained by Darren Bunyan and ridden in the mornings by wife Gillian, the son of Exceed and Excel was a fine second in a similar event last year behind the late, great Ertijaal; one start before emphatically defeating subsequent Carnival winner Dutch Masterpiece at the same trip. This year, he is likely to take on a pair of talented foes, including fellow Al Quoz Sprint (G1) alumni and Carnival winner Faatinah, as well as improving fellow Irish charge Freescape. “He’s 100% and we couldn’t be happier with how he’s shipped over,” Bunyan said. “He came out of the box like he had been on holiday, not a horse who had been traveling. He won a Group 3 last out, the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk, which was nice to win because it was sponsored by Mr. Al Basti (Al Basti Equiworld). “We’re seeing a whole different horse,” Bunyan continued. “He’s learned to sprint properly. Last year, going against a legend like Ertijaal taught him a lot. He’s a much stronger horse this year, so I wouldn’t rule out stretching out to six furlongs again or even (trying the dirt).” A winner last out on Dundalk’s all-weather, left-handed course in the aforementioned Mercury Stakes (G3), Hit the Bid’s 2018 campaign consisted of four Dubai runs in which he faced some of the top turf sprinters in the world while competing in Group 1 company in Ireland and France—the former in which he was
fourth, beaten only 1¼ lengths in The Curragh’s Flying Five Stakes. When last seen at Meydan, he failed to factor when 12th in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) over 1200m behind Jungle Cat. “In the Al Quoz, things just didn’t work out for him, but seeing the things he’s been showing us at home, there are many options open for him, now,” Bunyan concluded. “He’s a much better horse. After the Carnival, there’s a plan to hopefully run him in Sydney (Australia) in Group 1 company.”