Trevaunance Aims to Beat The Blues in Dubai Millennium Stakes

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iRace
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Trevaunance is a first Dubai runner for Moyglare Stud and has an impressive CV, having won four of her 14 starts, including the G2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville in August.
Trevaunance is a first Dubai runner for Moyglare Stud and has an impressive CV, having won four of her 14 starts, including the G2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville in August.

The G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for Godolphin in recent years but the ‘boys in blue’ face serious competition this time when Trevaunance lines up for Irish trainer Jessica Harrington.

The five-year-old is a first Dubai runner for Moyglare Stud and has an impressive CV, having won four of her 14 starts, including the G2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville in August.

“Trevaunance has travelled over to Dubai very well and Zara, her rider, has been delighted with her,” said Kate Harrington, trainer’s daughter and assistant. “Shane [Foley, jockey] sat on her this morning [Wednesday] and was very happy with how she was.

“We are looking forward to her running a big race on Friday.”

Taking her on is a formidable Charlie Appleby pair, headed by New London, winner of the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood 2022. The five-year-old has been gelded since his last start in September and is the mount of William Buick, who has chosen him over Warren Point, the mount of Mickael Barzalona, who was second in a Qatar G1 among his globetrotting exploits.

“We are hoping that dropping back to a mile and a quarter is going to suit New London,” said Appleby, who won all four turf races on Fashion Friday last week. “This race has always been the plan for him and, if you take the best of his three-year-old form, he looks a serious contender.

“Warren Point proved what he could do in Bahrain and Qatar last year. He ran well enough out in America and then the ground was against him at Newmarket. He has wintered out in Dubai for a couple of years without actually running at Meydan, but I think the trip and track will suit.”

UK trainer Jamie Osborne has already tasted success this Carnival with Ouzo and he is hopeful of another big run from Sean, who finished fourth in the G2 Zabeel Mile last time.

“We ran him at a mile first time, knowing that he would probably improve for the step up in trip,” said the trainer. “I think the 2000metres will suit him and if he comes forward from his first run he should be very competitive.”

Osborne also runs Solid Stone, a Group 2 winner when trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the UK. “His main target is the G2 Dubai City of Gold on Super Saturday,” said the trainer. “We’re running him here with a view that it will bring him on for that.”

The main supporting race is the AED500,000 Listed Dubai Sprint, which has attracted a field of 14 over the 1200metre turf track. Among them is 2022 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic, who steps back up in trip after finishing fourth to Ponntos last time.

“Mischief Magic came out of the Ertijaal Dubai Dash well and coming back to six furlongs should play to his strengths,” said Appleby. “I feel he should be a big player.”

His rivals include Walbank and Yonafis, first and second over course and distance last time out, while Batwan aims for a third course win for trainer Nicolas Caullery.

“Sadly he has a bad draw [14],” said Marine Henry, trainer’s wife and assistant. “Last time he had a bad draw also [16] and was on the wrong side of the track so hopefully he won’t have that problem this time.

“He’s still in good condition and is happy to be in Dubai so we just have to see how he handles the draw.”

Horses from three different countries clash in the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic [Presented by Lincoln Aviator], over 1400metres on turf, race three. It was won last year by subsequent dual G1 winner Mawj and those hoping to emulate her include Nadelia, winner of her only start.

“It’s her first time in Dubai but she won really easily on her first start in Deauville,” said Henry. “She’s a [half] sister to [G1 winner] King Gold and we do like her, that’s why we’ve brought her to Dubai. She did a piece of work really well last week and we’re looking forward to her race. She has a good draw and should go well.”

Up against her is Onigiri, who switches to the grass after running down the field on dirt last time.

“The jockey was negative about her handling the dirt last time,” said trainer Lucia Botti. “It was a gamble and we knew that, but now she’s fit and she’s very fresh.

“It’s a tough spot for her but she’s well and we want to see how good she is on the grass.”

Doug Watson runs Awesome Spirit Gal, who steps up in trip after finishing sixth over 1200metres. “She came in from Ireland and had a couple of runs there,” said Watson. “We just got her started the other night. Her coat’s really not been coming but she works like she has some ability. It’s a tough spot for her but I think she’ll give a good account of herself.”

An interesting bunch of three-year-old colts line up over 1900metres on dirt in the Lincoln Presidential, race two.

They include Tapit’staleofverve, who makes his debut for prominent owner-breeder Charles Fipke and Watson, who gave an upbeat bulletin.

“Tapit’staleofverve trains like a really nice horse,” said Watson. “We were stuck there for a while as he had a big growth spurt and so we’re having to run in this 1900metre race. It’s a trip he should stay but it’s a pretty big ask for the first start of his life.

“He’s been over to work at Meydan three times and has done very well. I expect him to run well and I think Pat [Dobbs, jockey] does too. I’d love to run at a mile but that’s the next week and then it’s only two weeks back to the Al Bastakiya. It’s a call that we had to make and I think he’s up to it – he’s a big, strong looking, colt.”

Lining up against him is Shababy, a last time out winner at Jebel Ali. “He seems to be improving week by week,” said trainer Julio Olascoaga. “In conversation with the owner [Ahmad Al Shaikh] we decided to aim for this specific race, to prepare him for the Al Bastakiya later this month.

“It turns out we’re the only winners in the field, but there are some eye-catching ones that ran very well in their previous starts.

The closing Lincoln Corsair Handicap, over 1800metres on turf, sees Royal Dubai aim to go one better than he managed a month ago when he was second over a mile.

“We were absolutely thrilled with that,” said trainer Botti. “It was his first run of the season and he was good in the gates which he can sometimes have trouble with.

“He was fairly fit going into that but he looks a lot better now and we’re delighted with him.”

Also on the card is the Jumeirah Guineas [Presented by Lincoln Nautilus], race eight, over 1600metres on turf, in which Appleby’s Legend Of Time clashes again with Shamrock Glitter and Athnan, who he beat in the trial for this race a month ago.

Racing begins at 5:30pm with the Lincoln Handicap for Purebred Arabians, over 1600metres on dirt.

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