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| Sumita Pawar |
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On Saturday at Sandown Park, Jockey Tom Marquand will strive to maintain his successful summer by winning his first domestic Group One of the year with Dubai Honour. Marquand is confident that Dubai Honour has the ability to exploit any weaknesses in his competitors in the Coral Eclipse race.
In his quest to continue his triumphant summer, Jockey Tom Marquand aims to secure his first domestic Group One victory of the year with Dubai Honour at Sandown Park on Saturday. Marquand firmly believes that Dubai Honour possesses the skills to capitalize on any vulnerabilities displayed by his rivals in the Coral-Eclipse race.
Dubai Honour's Redemption: A Group One Triumph
Despite failing to win in five starts last year, the 5YO, Dubai Honour had a successful trip to Australia earlier this year, winning Group One races in the Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Although he finished third in his last race in Hong Kong, Marquand believes Dubai Honour has a chance to secure his first domestic Group One victory, despite being a 12-1 underdog according to race sponsor Coral.
Marquand said, “Dubai Honour is all set to go at the weekend. I’ve not sat on him at all since Hong Kong but I saw him the other day and he looks great and I know they are happy with him.
“He had a fantastic time in Australia. He got his maiden Group One on the board then his second one in quick succession. He had to beat some good horses in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“He then went to Hong Kong and he ran a very respectable race on ground that was probably just too sharp. Romantic Warrior has proven himself at that level on lots of occasions now.
“He never really had a clean run at the big days last season but going abroad proved pivotal in getting his head over the line in a big one.
“He has had a freshen-up since he has come back and I’m looking forward to seeing him back on a British racecourse.
“Emily Upjohn was fantastic at Epsom in the Coronation Cup and she has an electric turn of foot while Paddington gets so much weight from us and he looks very good.
“He doesn’t have as much to find as it might initially look, and he would be a horse that would be well capable of finding any flaws in any of their armour.”
Marquand hopes that Dubai Honour can follow in the footsteps of his former stablemate Addeybb, who was able to replicate his impressive international success when competing in domestic races.
Marquand added, “Going abroad proved pivotal in getting Dubai Honour’s head over the line in a big one.
“As with saw with Addeybb he won his first Group One races down there then he came back and went and won a Champion Stakes later in his career back here.
“Hopefully this lad can take another step forward for getting his head in front down there and can crack on as a Group One horse.
“He had to bridge the class gap realistically in Australia, but he is an older horse and he is coming together now.”
Despite recognizing that Dubai Honour must maintain his momentum in order to secure a victory, Marquand eagerly anticipates the forthcoming challenge.
He concluded, “I’ve been lucky that the other horses I’ve ridden in the Eclipse, Alenquer and Addeybb had won Group Ones going into the race, just like Dubai Honour has.
“Addeybb ran an extremely solid race against the likes of St Mark’s Basilica and Mishriff. I think this race probably compares to that year the most.
“I’d say he probably has slipped under the radar a bit but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since he was winning his Group Ones in Australia.
“The memory of those wins has been pushed back to a lot of people’s minds as the others have been doing it more recently.
“He has got to improve on what he is doing to beat the top three in the market, but he will be competitive. If he runs up to his best, he will put in a solid effort that is for sure.
“Any Group One is hard to come by but going into the weekend on a horse that has a squeak is something to look forward to.”