Dubai: Three horses with Dubai connections, Future Empire, Storm The Stars and Tannaaf, will bid to showcase their Derby credenals in the Group 3 Chester Vase, the feature event of the second day’s action at the annual Chester Racing Festival.
Trained by Saeed Bin Surour saddles Future Empire, who will be looking to atone for his defeat in the Epsom’s Derby Trial two weeks ago, when he takes on five rivals in the
2,400m contest which dates back to 1824.
“Future Empire ran a very nice race at Epsom and will be very happy over a mile and a half, which should suit him better,” said Bin Surour, who is looking for his first success in the race. “He should improve from Epsom and we are hoping for a good run. The ground should not be a problem.”
William Haggas, who in 1996 saddled Shaamit to win the Derby, sends out the highly-thought-of Storm The Stars for Shaikh Juma Dalmouk Al Maktoum, and top South African handler Mike de Kock is represented by Tannaaf, who races in the colours of four-time UAE Derby (G2) winning owner Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
The ante-post favourite Hans Holbein bids to give Aidan O’Brien a third successive triumph in the Chester Vase and his sixth in all.
