William Haggas has decided against pitting Dubai Honour against Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, but the champion English trainer will have a hand in the race with Al Mubhir.
Dubai Honour was among nominations for Saturday’s 2000m feature but didn’t accept, with Haggas’ travelling foreperson Isabella Paul confirming they felt the longer journey of the Tancred Stakes (2400m) on Saturday week was a better fit.
“Hopefully he will go for the Tancred next weekend,” Paul said shortly after partnering Dubai Honour in a workout at Canterbury on Wednesday.
“He has proven last year that he’s probably almost a better horse over a mile-and-a-half. He won the Prix de Saint-Cloud over a mile-and-a-half at Saint-Cloud and then he was second at Baden Baden in another Group One and then he was second at the end of the year in Hong Kong over a mile-and-a-half.
“He has definitely proven himself over that trip and it looks a really nice race for him so he will go there and then we’ll see how he comes out of that.”
While Dubai Honour won’t be in action on Golden Slipper day, stablemate Al Mubhir is on target to make his Sydney debut in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
He also stretched his legs at Canterbury on Wednesday and Paul reported the gelding had taken his first trip to Australia in his stride.
While Al Mubhir’s biggest success to date has been at Listed level, Paul explains that he has the talent to raise the bar if he brings his A-game to the races.
“At home, he has always been a horse we’ve thought very highly of and sometimes he doesn’t translate that into the afternoons,” she said.
“He has been galloping with Dubai Honour since he’s been here and he is well able to match him, so you’d hope he can translate that into the afternoon and we’ll hopefully see a nice run on Saturday.”
Both Al Mubhir and Dubai Honour hold entries for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) next month, as does fellow travelling companion Desert Hero.
Raced by His Majesty The King, Desert Hero lost weight on the flight from England and plans for him remain open, but Paul said she had been much happier with the horse over the past week.
“He is lovely and relaxed (now) and he is going really nicely and I don’t want to rush him through stuff to make a race when I think he’ll get better and better,” Paul said.
“He’s got an entry for the Sydney Cup, Queen Elizabeth, Chairman’s Handicap, JRA Plate. There are plenty of different options for him later in the carnival.”
Haggas has a incredible record when travelling horses to Sydney, winning feature races with the likes of Addeybb and Dubai Honour and most recently last year’s Golden Eagle with Lake Forest.
Tom Marquand rides Al Mubhir, one of six horses lining up to take on star mare Via Sistina who is set to start a prohibitive odds-on favourite.
