Group 2 UAE Derby [sponsored by Emirates NBD] winner Rebel’s Romance is among the Godolphin trainees who have arrived in Dubai ahead of the new UAE racing season.
The winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial on his local debut, the gelded son of Dubawi is among 18 horses who arrived at Godolphin’s Marmoom Stables on October 1st. They include Desert Peace, winner of a mile dirt handicap at Meydan Racecourse in March before running second on US debut in an Allowance Optional Claimer at Belmont Park in June.
Appleby, who saddled 17 winners from 65 runners during the 2020/21 UAE season, has sent over a strong band of three-year-olds. Among them is Group 1 Vertem Futurity runner-up One Ruler, as well as another son of Dubawi; Quintillus, a winner on his most recent start at Newmarket in August.
La Barrosa, winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket as a two-year-old, has also joined the Dubai team as has Group 3 winner Volkan Star as well as Listed winner Wirko, gelded since finishing fourth in the Group 3 Chester Vase in May. Naval Crown, winner of the Listed Meydan Classic in February, is another who made the trip. The three-year-old Dubawi colt finished eighth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in July.
Several of the arrivals have previous Dubai experience, including Group 3 winner Lazuli, seventh in the Group 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga on his most recent start in August, and Man Of Promise, impressive winner of the Listed Dubai Sprint in February.
Another with Meydan Racecourse experience is four-year-old Path Of Thunder, a subsequent winner at Newmarket, while five-year-old Art Du Val was a narrow fourth in the G1 Jebel Hatta [sponsored by Emirates Airline] in March.
The Carnival’s staying division will be bolstered by Kingswear, a four-year-old son of Dubawi, who was a winner over 2800metres on his most recent start at Chelmsford in December 2020.
Three-year-olds Silent Film, two from five starts so far, Tamborrada, three from four career, the unbeaten Al Waqidi, Chelmsford Novice winner Valiant Prince and successful debutant Echo Point complete the team currently in Dubai.
“They all came over on October 1st and they all travelled really well, we’re happy with them,” said Sophie Chretien, Assistant to Appleby in Dubai. “We aren’t doing all that much with them at the moment while they spend time acclimatising.”
Adding to the strong Godolphin team will be arrivals on October 16th for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.
“I am looking forward to the Carnival, we have some nice horses to send over and we can hopefully have a good season, said the Emirati trainer, who saddled nine winners during the 2020/21 UAE season. “The horses will fly out over the next few weeks and have time to settle in before racing. We have some Carnival regulars in Bedouin’s Story, Royal Marine, Final Song and Soft Whisper returning to Al Quoz, along with some new faces; Mutafawwig, Untold Story and Silent Escape to name a few.”
The nine-time Dubai World Cup winning trainer will also bring Real World, winner of his last four starts including the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp earlier this month.
“Real World and Passion And Glory will also be travelling for the Carnival after both having a very good season in Europe,” added Bin Suroor.
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Dubai Racing Club Press Release
Photo: Rebel’s Romance ( Dubai Racing Photo)
