Strong back form is definitely there for Mike De Kock trainee King of Rome, a 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival placer and entrant in Friday’s Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (G3) at Newbury. Over 11 furlongs, a field of six has been assembled and it includes the always dangerous Halicarnassus, a shock winner at Nad Al Sheba this winter. King of Rome was a slow-starting seventh behind Godolphin’s Carnival success, Kirklees, in his return run since a dull 13th in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). Campanologist, a hit-or-miss Godolphin stabler, carries the blue colors in the Arc Trial.
In other Carnival news, Bankable landed Wednesday’s Fortune Stakes (Listed) at Sandown, his first victory since the 2009 DIRC. Bankable was fifth home in the Dubai Duty Free (G1). Fateh Field, twice placed at the 2009 DIRC, won a turf sprint at Belmont Park on Thursday in allowance conditions. Clearly a quirky horse, Fateh Field won in hand while jockey Jean-Luc Samyn did everything possible to stay up.