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| Staff Writer |
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Spirit Dancer, the globetrotting gelding part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is gearing up for another lucrative Middle Eastern campaign, with a preliminary run at Newmarket on the horizon.
The 7YO son of Frankel, trained by Richard Fahey, has been a revelation on the international stage. His Middle Eastern exploits last season saw him amass over US$2.1 million in prize money, courtesy of victories in the Bahrain International Trophy and the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh.
Spirit Dancer's last outing in the Gr.1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March ended in disappointment, as he finished a distant 11th. Fahey revealed:
"He's good. He's had a bit of an easy period, but he's been back cantering for two months. He's had a good rest and the plan was to give him a break so we've given him one."
The Musley Bank handler has earmarked the Gr.3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket in October as Spirit Dancer's comeback race. This mirrors last year's strategy, where he finished fourth behind Highland Avenue.
The Darley Stakes has been a launching pad for several high-profile horses. Recent winners include the likes of Decorated Knight, who went on to claim Group One glory in the Irish Champion Stakes, and Lord Glitters, who later triumphed in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan.
While the Newmarket outing is important, Fahey's primary focus remains on the Middle East. He stated:
"To be honest his focus is the Middle East. We will see, he's had a tough enough year this year. He's had a such a busy time that he needed a break. We'll probably run him at Newmarket in that Group Three, the Darley Stakes, and then head to Bahrain."
Fahey briefly experimented with Spirit Dancer over a mile and a half, but the results were inconclusive due to a setback. He's inclined to stick to what works:
"I did try him at a mile and half, but he had a bit of a setback in that race so it's a bit inconclusive. I can't see why we would change it from a mile and quarter at the moment."
As Spirit Dancer prepares for his comeback, all eyes will be on Newmarket to gauge his form before he jets off to defend his Middle Eastern titles. With a well-earned rest under his belt and a clear campaign strategy, Fahey's stable star looks set to continue his globe-trotting success story.