Charlie Fellowes-trained Prince of Arran, broke new ground for Fellowes in Australia, when he won the Gr.3 Lexus Stakes giving the Newmarket stable it is first Group-level victory.
Prince of Arran then ran third behind Cross Counter and Marmelo three days later, three lengths off Godolphin's breakthrough win at Flemington.
Fellowes’ is confident of his pupil’s ability to win the coveted Gold Cup for his stable.
John Sadler hasn’t shipped a horse for the Dubai World Cup night in over a decade. It was Nad Al Sheba when he was first here, but all his experience tells the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning trainer that his horse, Platinum Warrior is a keeper and a winner. Platinum Warrior is owned by Yuesheng Zhang who has a goal to win on Dubai World Cup night ‘in the next five years.’
Juddmonte Farms’ Weekender, third in the Irish St Leger, will likely be the only representative from the famed ownership on Dubai World Cup night. Trained by John Gosden, the son of Frankel was also second to subsequent Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo in York’s Grand Cup Stakes (Listed) by a neck in June.
“He’s still on course at the moment,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Juddmonte. “The horse is in good form. He was gelded over the winter and seems to come out of that well.”
Grimthorpe continued. “Then, when he was third in the Irish St Leger, that was a step up to a major class. I think there’s still improvement to be seen from him.”
Ispolini another contender in the race who has shown an amazing turn of foot, leads the local favourites’ band. Plans to ship him to Australia were scrapped in favour of another run after he romped to victory in the Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.
“Last time he showed he could travel strongly and today the plan was just to make him relax, but he has got some speed as well. I think (the 3200m of the Dubai Gold Cup) is possible,” said Barzalona his regular jockey.
Gr.1 Prix Du Cadran winner George Strawbridge homebred, Call The Wind is a fantastic stayer, with a magnificent turn of foot. “I’m very happy with the horse,” said his conditioner Freddy Head said in an interview to Al Adiyat “He had been improving all last year and I think he has improved again coming into this race.” The stayer has won three of his last four starts, and ready to take the next steps when he takes on some of the top stayers in the world in the 3200m affair on 30 March.
Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy runner-up, Red Galileo, Gr.1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup runner-up Gold Mount from Hong Kong, Godolphin owned-Team Talk and Sharmadal sired-Sharpalo complete this august field.
Winner 2018: Vazirabad
Click here to Runner list 2019
Race Info:
Distance: 3,200 metres (abt 2 miles), Surface: Turf, Track: left-handed, Qualification: Three=years-old and up
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariastworld.com