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Newbury, England: Champion trainer Gill Duffield has an excellent chance of winning the prestigious Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1) for the second successive year at Newbury on Sunday.
Her 2007 winner No Risk Al Maury has been strongly supported to clinch his third success of this season.
The impressive son of Kesberoy, who has won eight out of ten career starts, looks to have solid form in the wake of his prep race victory at this course on June 24.
No Risk Al Maury drew clear of Qatari raider Jaafer ASF, who will be riding on Sunday, to win by one and three quarters of a length.
The five-year-old is a genuine stayer and the mile and two furlong tip of Sunday's race is tailor-made for him says Duffield.
"He's won over a mile but ten furlongs is his best distance," she said. "He's spot on and I would say he is the one to beat on Sunday."
Duffield chose to close her eyes to the defeat her star suffered in the Coupe D'Europe at Chantilly last month, where he finished sixth, saying 'he really needed the race.'
Second ever defeat
It was only the second time in his career that No Risk Al Maury tasted defeat but Duffield believes that he is poised to reassert himself as one of the best middle distance Purebred Arabians in Europe.
Big-race jockey Richard Hills, who rode No Risk Al Maury to victory at Newbury 12 months ago, renews his partnership with the English star who faces four rivals on Sunday.
Among them are Jaafer ASF, a top class Group 1 campaigner from Qatar who finished runner-up to No Risk Al Maury on his UK debut for trainer Georgina Ward but will need to produce something special to turn the tables on his conqueror.
Prince Dormant, trained by former UAE champion jockey Dennis Batteate, finishing sixth in the UAE President Cup - Hydra Properties UK Derby (Gr 1) at Newmarket last week and will bid to make amends while Sweden throw in a challenge with Hespeshal.
Big step up
Former UAE-based trainer Julian Smart saddles Alize Safinat for owners The Royal Cavalry Of Oman but this is a big step up in class for a horse that has been campaigned mostly in handicaps.
Duffield, who currently leads the Trainer's Championship for Purebred Arabians with 10 wins, is also hoping to win the Group 1 Jebel Al Stakes for three-year-olds with former French-trainer Royal Class.
The trainer reports she has only had the horse for two months but has been impressed with his temperament.
"He's settled in very well and I'm pleased with his attitude," she said. "He seems like a very straightforward horse."
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