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| Staff Writer |
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First Conquest faces his sternest examination yet as the impressive course winner steps up to Pattern company in the Gr.3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan on Friday, seeking to extend Godolphin's remarkable dominance in the contest.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt has been making steady progress, landing a mile handicap at Newmarket before an eye-catching display in the Lord North Handicap, powering clear by nearly four lengths earlier this month.
Godolphin's royal blue silks have been triumphant in ten of the eleven renewals, with Group One winners Hunter's Light, Tryster, Ghaiyyath and Nations Pride among their previous victors.
Appleby said: "First Conquest won impressively on his first start in Dubai and has come forward for the run. He is stepping into Pattern company and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the rise in class. We are dipping our toe at this level to see where his future lies and will hopefully be a lot wiser afterwards."
The yard also fields Romantic Style in the Listed Dubai Sprint, the Group Three winner dropping back in trip after finishing second in the Gr.2 Cape Verdi two weeks ago.
"The Cape Verdi was a messy race, and a mile has always been a slight question mark for Romantic Style in terms of whether she truly sees the trip out," Appleby noted. "She has strengthened over the winter and dropping back to sprinting could be her gig, looking at her pedigree. She goes into this in great shape, and it will open a few doors if she handles the drop in distance."
The card features crucial trials for Super Saturday's Jumeirah Classics, with Group Two-placed Mountain Breeze returning in the Mawj Stakes following her eighth in Canada's Gr.1 Natalma Stakes.
Al Qudra, runner-up in Woodbine's Gr.1 Summer Stakes, heads the Jumeirah Guineas Trial alongside stablemate Hallasan, who stayed on strongly to take second behind Age Of Gold in the Jumeirah Stakes. Saeed bin Suroor saddles both Castle Gates, returning to turf after his UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial effort, and Desert Shadow, fifth in the Jumeirah Stakes.