Tag Archive for: Royal Dubai

Royal Dubai continues perfect start for Burrows

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Royal Dubai continued his perfect start for trainer Owen Burrows as he pounced late to claim the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

Previously trained by Marco Botti, Royal Dubai switched to Burrows’ care after two unsuccessful British runs in April and June, but he struck gold in Listed company at Newbury on his yard debut last month.

Upped to Group Three level here, the 9-4 joint favourite was anchored towards the rear by Callum Rodriguez through the early stages but when the gaps came in the final furlong, Royal Dubai had the necessary speed to take advantage and pipped Military Order by a neck on the line, with Haunted Dream back in third.

Rodriguez told Racing TV: “It was a good performance. We were drawn on the inside, he’s a horse that enjoys a bit of cover and passing horses so we were never going to be in a rush.

“I was a little bit worried up the straight that we weren’t going to get the splits but he was all there for me when we did and he’s picked up well to the line.”

Suite Francaise benefited from a perfectly-judged front-running ride to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes.

Joe Fanning had the 15-2 shot smartly away and she never looked like being passed, claiming a two-length success over Never Let Go.

Winning trainer Charlie Johnston knows the family well with his father having trained the dam, Francophilia for owner Kirsten Rausing while Suite Francaise’s sister Francophone was a Listed victor for the trainer last term.

He was represented by his mother Deirdre, who said: “They’re all superstars and such lovely horses to have at home and look after. Joe said she was so quiet down at the start he was hoping she was all right as she was so well behaved.

“He said she was never going to get beat, she was out there in front, really enjoying it and when he kicked, off she went.

“It was fantastic. She’s done nothing wrong and black type is a big thing for Kirsten, we’ve got big black type but in Group company would be even better.”

Royal Dubai aiming to continue good start for Burrows at Haydock

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Owen Burrows is hopeful Royal Dubai can build on his winning start for the yard when he lines up for the Group Three Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

The five-year-old son of Seahenge joined Burrows from Marco Botti in June and quickly became popular with his new trainer, landing the Steventon Stakes at Newbury less than a month later.

After defeating Rashabar by a length in that Listed contest in Berkshire, Burrows is keen to continue that momentum as Royal Dubai targets a maiden Pattern success at Haydock on Saturday.

“He’s come out of Newbury very well and I’m very pleased with him so it looks a nice, logical next step,” he said.

“I think we only had him about a month or so before, so he settled in like an old pro and it was a very pleasing start.

“We’ve got to go up in grade and I feel it’s a very trappy, very tight race on Saturday, so let’s see what happens.

“We obviously stepped him up in trip, it looked to suit at Newbury so hopefully he can keep progressing.”

Haatem returns to 10 furlongs having dropped down to a mile last time out after winning the Wolferton Stakes for Richard Hannon.

“I think 10 furlongs is his best trip now and obviously he won the Wolferton Stakes well at Royal Ascot,”said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“I think going back up to that distance is going to put everything in his favour and hopefully he can run a big race.”

Charlie Appleby is doubly represented, through Military Order – who is a full-brother to Derby and King George hero Adayar – and First Conquest.

“Military Order ran a very creditable race at Royal Ascot (sixth in the Wolferton) and likes the combination of quick ground over a mile and a quarter,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told the Godolphin website.

“This will hopefully tell is whether he is a horse for something like the Bahrain International Trophy later in the year.

“First Conquest goes into this in great order and stepping back up to a mile and a quarter will hopefully suit. If he runs to the level of his Dubai form earlier in the year, he should be very competitive.”

Wathnan have another dart in the extended mile-and-a-quarter race with Hamad Al Jehani’s Haunted Dream, while Certain Lad runs for Jack Channon.

The green and pink silks of Juddmonte have market leader Detain, trained by John and Thady Gosden, and Harry Charlton’s Okeechobee to complete the eight-runner field.

Royal Dubai relishes extra distance on first start for Owen Burrows

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A hunch from Owen Burrows to explore options at 10 furlongs paid dividends, as new recruit Royal Dubai thrived over the extra yardage in the BetVictor Steventon Stakes at Newbury.

Previously trained by Marco Botti, the five-year-old has been a consistent operator in good company at distances around a mile, but after a switch to Lambourn to join Burrows, he tried a mile and a quarter for the first time since his three-year-old days.

The 10-1 outsider of five in the hands of Callum Rodriguez, he relished conditions to see off Brian Meehan’s 5-2 chance Rashabar for Listed honours, teeing up further action at this trip.

Burrows said: “I’m very fortunate to get him, he’s been with us a month and came in great shape from Marco’s.

“The owner sportingly left it to me and I just felt at a mile he was looking exposed and with his pedigree it might be worth trying him over a little bit further again.

“He had a fair bit to find at the ratings and we were hoping for a drop more rain, but it was really pleasing and I’m still learning about him to be honest.

“He’s a Listed winner now and we’ll have to look at the programme book, but there’s the Rose of Lancaster (at Haydock) on August 9 which we could have a look at and this is just a great start.”

Ralph Beckett’s 6-4 favourite Egoli could have booked a return to York or a trip to the Qatar Goodwood Festival after confirming the promise of his previous Knavesmire victory in the Run For Your Money At BetVictor EBF Novice Stakes.

Beckett said: “I like him, he’s a nice horse. He’s in the Gimcrack Stakes at York for a reason and I would like to go back there. When he won there last time he was impressive.

“He might have an entry for the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood as well, although I’m not sure that would be his track. He’s quite a heavy shouldered horse and I’m not sure it will suit him and it might want a bit of juice in the ground there for him to go there.

“We’ve all had No Nay Nevers which are fidgety, but he’s not, he just eats and sleeps and is a lovely sort of horse.

“He was very professional today and he goes well. It takes a good horse to win a Newbury novice under a penalty. Hopefully there is more to come and he’s one to look forward to, I think. There’s a bit of size and scope to him, so he shouldn’t be just a two-year-old either.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Consent (11-2) defied a near 300-day absence to land the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes in the hands of Luke Morris.

Prescott said of the Denford Stud-owned winner: “She’s always been rather flighty, she went back to Denford in the winter and they’ve done a great job. She’s been slow to come in her coat, she’s just come right the last month.

“She’s got ability and a proper pedigree. She’s in all those races, which when you make the entries you think you might look mad in a few weeks, but she’s in them all. She’s an interesting animal.”