Tag Archive for: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes

Passenger added to Dante field

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Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger has been supplemented for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, with 14 in contention for the York feature.

An impressive winner of the Wood Ditton at Newmarket on debut, it has cost connections £14,000 to add the son of Ulysees into the Betfred Derby trial, which Stoute has won on seven occasions and landed 12 months ago with subsequent Epsom hero Desert Crown.

Passenger would also have to be supplemented into the Derby itself if passing his Knavesmire assignment, something successfully done eight years ago by Golden Horn.

Golden Horn is one of three winners for John Gosden in the last 10 years and alongside son Thady, the Clarehaven team could be represented by Blue Riband Trial winner Epictetus this time around.

Flying Honours looks most likely to run for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin with stablemate Military Order declared for Lingfield on Saturday, while Charlie Johnston already has one Derby candidate in the form of 2000 Guineas fifth Dubai Mile and could bid to add a second string to his bow with Dear My Friend.

Winner of the Burradon Stakes last time, the colt’s owners, Middleham Park Racing, are now dreaming of further glory.

“We’ve got lots of excited owners on our hands at the moment. Very much the dream is still alive! We’ll have a big crowd there next Thursday and they’re just really excited, just to see how his season develops,” said Middleham Park’s Mike Prince.

Dear My Friend ridden by James Doyle wins the talkSPORT Burradon Stakes at Newcastle
Dear My Friend ridden by James Doyle wins the talkSPORT Burradon Stakes at Newcastle (Richard Sellers/PA)

“The syndicate were absolutely delighted with his run at Newcastle – the form is working out nicely,”

“Him and Flight Plan had a ding-dong battle in the final furlong but he was quite comfortably on top in the last 100 yards and looked to be extending away.

“He’s got a lovely, long stride on him and we think that stride-length will come into play when we step him up to a mile and two. We’re pretty adamant that the step up in trip will suit him.”

Cairo and Continuous are possibles for Aidan O’Brien, while John Joseph Murphy’s Ballysax winner White Birch is another potential raider from Ireland.

Free Wind has been added to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes mix
Free Wind has been added to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes mix (Mike Egerton/PA)

Canberra Legend was a taking winner of the Feilden Stakes and could bid to get his Classic ticket stamped, with the Craven Stakes form represented by Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and Roger Teal’s Dancing Magic, who finished second and third respectively at Newmarket.

In the supporting Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, the Gosdens have added Free Wind to the line-up at a cost of £11,200, but their star filly Nashwa is a notable absentee.

A maximum of eight will head to post in the 10-furlong contest, with German Oaks winner Toskana Belle a possible to make her debut for Roger Varian and Richard Hannon’s track-and-trip scorer Aristia another name of note.

Nashwa set to return at York next month

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York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes is the likely starting point for Nashwa when she returns to the track for her four-year-old campaign.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel proved to be a high-class filly last season, winning the French Oaks at Chantilly before securing more Group One honours at a mile and a quarter in the Nassau Stakes.

She finished her Classic season by going down on her shield in both the Prix de l’Opera and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but will bid to regain the winning thread on the Knavesmire on May 18 providing conditions are suitable.

Nashwa, jockey Hollie Doyle and owner Imad Al Sagar after winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Nashwa, jockey Hollie Doyle and owner Imad Al Sagar after winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (Matt Alexander/PA)

“She stays in training and has wintered well,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar.

“She hasn’t done much and probably at this stage we’re aiming at the Middleton at York and then we would see how we go from there.

“The mile and a quarter races would be her initial targets anyway I would imagine, but I suppose if the ground came up very soft for some reason at York and if the ground was all right at Newbury she might divert to the Lockinge (May 20). At the moment though, the plan is to look at the Middleton and Imad is happy with that plan.”

Plans will remain fluid for Nashwa throughout the campaign where she has the option of taking on the colts and geldings in some of the top-level 10 furlong contests, but also has plenty of possibilities amongst her own sex including the Prix Jean Romanet and a return to Goodwood to defend her Nassau crown.

“There’s the Prince Of Wales’s, Eclipse and Juddmonte if you are being really brave,” Grimthorpe continued.

“Otherwise there are nice races in Deauville and all those nice fillies races all around the Nassau which she won last year as well, so there is a good programme for her.”