Dubai: The $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2), the newest and longest race on the evening at 3,200 metres, appears to be at the beck and call of last year’s winner, the French-trained Vazirabad.
First run in 2012, the race has attracted a full field of 14 runners representing the UK and the UAE.
Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre in Chantilly, France, Vazirabad narrowly edged out Michael Bell’s gallant globe-trotter, Big Orange, in a thrilling finish 12 months ago.
They meet at level weights this year with Vazirabad having had the pull in weights on that occasion.
However, the five-year-old son of German stallion Manduro, suffered a length and a half defeat to Godolphin’s Beautiful Romance, the winner of Group 2 contests in the UK and Australia last year, a year which he also contested the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, finishing seventh behind the winner Almandin.
This year’s renewal also features Irish-trained Heartbreak City, who suffered an agonising defeat to Almandin in the Cup and another Melbourne Cup contender, the Roger Charlton-trained Quest For More.
“He is the same horse as last year, just that bit older,” said Royer-Dupre of Vazirabad.
“He did his final piece of serious work last week but was pretty fit anyway after his race last month. I was very happy with him.”
Big Orange, winner of the Goodwood Cup for a second time last year and has been pleasing his work rider, Jill Dolman, who said: “He is a bigger, stronger horse this year who is really growing into his frame which should help him use his massive stride.”
In his penultimate start of 2016 Big Orange was a close third in the Group 2 Zipping Stakes at Sandown, Australia, a 2400m contest won by Godolphin’s Beautiful Romance.
Oisin Murphy, in the saddle on that occasion, retains the partnership for Saeed Bin Surour who said: “She worked very well on Sunday and was very pleasing when landing the Nad Al Sheba Trophy.
“She was a good seventh over this trip in the Melbourne Cup so the distance should be fine but this is a stronger field than for her last win.”
Bin Surour added: “Beautiful Romance beat a strong field in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy. She worked well on Sunday and is in good form at the moment.
“She ran well over this trip in the Melbourne Cup, but this will be a tougher race than her latest start.
Bin Surour, who won this race in 2013 with Cavalryman, also saddles Famous Kid.
“Famous Kid needed the race in the Dubai City Of Gold and will appreciate the step up in distance. He is also in good order.”
Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City, trained in Ireland by Tony Martin is reunited with Joao Moreira who was in the saddle for that race at Flemington.
Perennial Irish champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien, saddles Kingfisher (IRE), not seen since finishing well beaten in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
A fascinating clash has also attracted Quest For More (IRE), Sheikhzayedroad (GB) and Trip To Paris (IRE), a trio of Group 1 winners all trained in Britain.
