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| Staff Writer |
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Tom Marquand is set to take the reins on Deira Mile for the first time as the Owen Burrows-trained colt prepares for his assignment in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan next month.
The 26-year-old jockey will partner the 4YO son of Camelot in the mile and a half Group One contest scheduled for Saturday, April 5, with connections hoping for an improved showing following a disappointing outing in Saudi Arabia.
Deira Mile has already ventured abroad this year, having made his seasonal reappearance in last month's Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh. However, the Green Team Racing-owned colt could only manage sixth place in the one mile seven-furlong Group Two event after racing too keenly in the early stages.
Lambourn-based Burrows believes the shorter trip at Meydan will play more to his charge's strengths.
"He was just too fresh and keen in Saudi Arabia, and he didn't really see his race out. He is not a horse that is usually keen so whether or not the occasion under the floodlights got to him I don't know," Burrows explained.
"He pulled for well over a mile of that race, so I thought he did well to still be there turning in with a chance. I think dropping back slightly to a mile and a half makes sense as the race will be more run to suit.
"It was no surprise to me that he weakened out of it, but he had a nice blow. Tom Marquand will ride him here and he came, and he had a sit on him the other day. I've been pleased with him since Saudi Arabia, and he took the race well. He will fly out to Dubai next weekend."
While acknowledging the challenge ahead against world-class middle-distance performers, Burrows remains optimistic that Deira Mile can deliver a performance reminiscent of his creditable efforts in last season's classics, where he finished fourth in both the Derby and St Leger.
"We are going to be up against some of the best middle-distance horses in the world here like Rebel's Romance and Calandagan, but we are running for huge money, so you expect the opposition to be strong," the trainer noted.
"We could have gone for the Dubai Gold Cup, but if he was keen again, I would be kicking myself and his owner was quite keen to go for the Sheema Classic.
"He likes being held up to come late, so we will see if we can do that and pick up a few pieces at the end. We know it will be tough, but if he could produce his Derby or St Leger form, he could sneak into the prize money."
Meanwhile, Burrows has confirmed that multiple Group race winner Alflaila has been retired to stand at stud in New Zealand.
The son of Dark Angel won seven of his 19 career starts, amassing more than US$687,500 in prize money.
"He can't ship until the beginning of May and Angus (Gold, racing manager to Shadwell Estates) said can you keep him for six weeks before he goes to New Zealand," said Burrows.
"He has won two Group Twos and two Group Threes, while he has also taken us out to Bahrain and Qatar where he picked up some good prize money.
"He was a solid horse as he was fourth in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes as well. Horses like him are hard to replace so he will leave a bit of a hole, but given what he has achieved we can't quibble too much.
"He will have plenty of mares to go to so he will be given a proper chance to succeed at stud. He is a good-looking horse that is athletic so I can't see why he shouldn't do well out there."