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| Sumita Pawar |
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A multitude of Dubai winners, such as Mawj, Al Dasim, Subjectivist, and Broome, who have previously raced at Meydan Racecourse and Dubai World Cup, will be participating in Royal Ascot, beginning on Tuesday, June 20th.
The five-day event, held at Ascot Racecourse in front of British royalty, will run until June 24th and feature eight Group one races that will showcase Dubai's form.
On Tuesday's card, there are three Group one races, and in the second one, the King's Stand Stakes, Equilateral and Happy Romance, who are visiting from Dubai, will compete against each other. Equilateral, who has won three races at Meydan Racecourse, will be racing for owner Fitri Hay and trainer Charlie Hills who said, “He was second to Battaash in the King's Stand three years ago, fifth 12 months ago and still has plenty of boot.”
Subjectivist: Confident And Ready
The Ascot Stakes, will feature Law Of The Sea and East Asia, who both ran in Meydan in 2023 and 2022 respectively, and are trained by Ian Williams. Later in the day, King Of Conquest, who came second in Meydan in 2022, will participate in the Listed Wolferton Stakes for Charlie Appleby, aiming to continue his winning streak of five. Highland Avenue, a Meydan runner in 2023, and Certain Lad, a Dubai winner in 2020 trained by Jack Channon, will also be competing.
Wednesday's events include the return of White Moonlight, who came second in the Gr.2 Cape Verdi, and is entered in both the Gr.2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes and the Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. The day's highlight is the Gr. 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, featuring Mostahdaf.
On Thursday, the 4000-meter Gr.1 Gold Cup, which is a captivating showdown between Subjectivist, the 2021 Gr. 2 Dubai Gold Cup winner now trained by Charlie Johnston, and Broome, who triumphed in that race three months ago, is the featured race of the week.
"Without being dismissive of the others, I'm not concerned about the opposition," said a confident Johnston of Subjectivist, who won this race after his Dubai success in 2021. "I know at his best Subjectivist can beat all of them."
Mawj: From Meydan To Ascot
Being a flagbearer for the Dubai form, Mawj has promoted the advantages of wintering in the UAE. In May, she exhibited her determination by winning the Gr.1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after securing two Meydan victories. Saeed bin Suroor, her trainer with 38 Royal Ascot wins, is optimistic about her ability to maintain her winning streak.
“We're very much looking forward to Royal Ascot and it's looking like a good race with the Irish 1000 Guineas winner [Tahiyra] in there and some other nice fillies,” said the Godolphin trainer, who also has dual Meydan winner Global Heat entered for the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. “I couldn't be happier with her."
Dubai Racing Club's Strong Presence
Trainer George Boughey is realistic about the chances of three-time Meydan winner Al Dasim, who will be lining up for Friday's 1200-meter Commonwealth Cup for 3YOs in Group one.
“He’s tailor-made for Dubai, that sort of racing on fast ground, and he’ll need it quick to show his best at Ascot for sure,” he said. “Hence he didn’t run at Haydock, but I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Dubai graduate Naval Crown won the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes a year ago, and Al Suhail will attempt to follow in his footsteps this year. The Astrologist, Emaraaty Ana, Khaadem, and Coachello are among the other competitors. The Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday will feature high-quality competition, including Hukum, Ardakan, and Rebel's Romance.
“We are delighted to see so many Dubai stars running at Royal Ascot,” commented Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club. “This is an important week in our sport and to have representation throughout the five days, especially at Group 1 level, underlines the strength of our local form and the benefits of wintering horses in Dubai.”