 |
|
| Sumita Pawar |
 |
Ed Bethell is making plans to give his horse, Regional, a break before aiming for more big-race victories at the Dubai World Cup in March 2024. Regional, a 5YO, recently won his first Group One race at Haydock, making it his third win at the Merseyside venue.
While there are options to supplement for next month's Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot, as well as races in the Breeders' Cup and Hong Kong, Bethell is uncertain about the suitability of these races.
Instead, he would prefer to keep his horse fresh for the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan early next year. After the success at Haydock, Bethell admitted to being in shock and celebrated on Saturday night before going to bed early due to exhaustion.
“The horse is absolutely fine – he came out of the race sounder than he went into it.
“I would imagine he’s probably going to go on holiday now. I don’t think the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita would really suit him. He got rushed off his feet in the Nunthorpe at York last month and I think if he went there the same would apply.
“We’re not entered for the Champions Sprint at Ascot, so we’d have to supplement, but for however many years it’s been run it’s been run on soft ground and he doesn’t like soft ground, so we don’t run him on it.
“After that there’s only really Hong Kong left and again, I’m not sure Sha Tin would be his bag, whizzing round that bend. I have nominated him, but I would rather end the year on a high.”
Owned by Bahrain-based HH Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, the entire has already banked £410,936 in career earnings. As the Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, he has been instrumental in the implementation strategies and programs to further enhance equestrian sports within the Kingdom and also attracting regional and international recognition.
While not completely dismissing the idea of a preparatory run, the Middleham Moor trainer is currently leaning towards going directly to the Al Quoz race with Regional before returning to Europe.
He added, “I’ve said to the lads that own him I’d quite like to train him for the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on World Cup night. Of all these international tracks I think Meydan would be the place for him as it’s very similar to Haydock and York – a big, flat, open, galloping track, which is what he likes.
“I’ll see how he is. You’ve got that Super Saturday meeting you might fly out for. He’s travelled before, having been to Qatar and finished second for us out there, so we know he’s good off an aeroplane.
“He’ll be targeted at all the top sprints next year, starting off with the Duke of York maybe if he comes back from Dubai all right.
“He’ll get an entry in both sprints at Royal Ascot (King’s Stand and Jubilee) I would think and then hopefully all roads lead back to trying to defend his crown at Haydock.”