A host of 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival and Dubai World Cup participants are slated to appear at the Royal Ascot meeting next week. Twelve horses hold entries for the first race of the meet, the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) over the straight mile, with 2010 Godolphin Mile (G2) winner, Calming Influence, amongst them.
2010 Burj Nahaar (G3) champion Cat Junior and dominant Al Rashidiya (G3) winner Alexandros are amongst other entrants. Most focus in the Queen Anne will be on Goldikova, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner, and Paco Boy, a former Dubai Duty Free also-ran, who has reeled off consecutive wins to start the season.
Wednesday’s feature, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, plays host to a quartet of Dubai graduates: dual Carnival winner and close third in the Dubai World Cup (G1), Allybar (pictured below), makes his return to the races; Presvis will make a rare English start for Luca Cumani and hopes to have some pace to run at after going fifth in Hong Kong following a disappointing Dubai Duty Free (G1) run; Cavalryman, a decent first-up fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), and fifth last time behind Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup (G1); Twice Over, tenth but only about three lengths behind Gloria De Campeao, returns to the races and grass for the first time since the fall.
An overwhelming number of Carnival runners are entered for Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup, a race won a year earlier by Forgotten Voice, who was second to Gloria De Campeao in the Maktoum Challenge – R1 (G3). The Jeremy Noseda trainee will give this race another chance and is likely to be joined by more than 20 rivals.
Kinsale King, winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) is due to be one of the main challengers later in the meeting over the six furlong Golden Jubilee.