Thursday, Oct 17, 2013
Dubai: Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour is poised to end his longest big-race drought when he saddles Farhh and Hunter’s Light in the £1.3 million (Dh7.62 million) Qipco Champion Stakes, one of several highlights on British Champions Day, the richest race day of the year in the UK, which takes place at Ascot on Saturday.
The Emirati is leaving nothing to chance in his bid to topple favourite Cirres Des Aigles and claim a maiden Champion Stakes trophy, the middle-distance final of the British Champions Series, which also includes finals in the Sprint, Mile, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares divisions.
Farhh has been off the track since winning the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, but is a horse that goes best fresh.
Hunter’s Light can also benefit from a light summer campaign with his most recent start being the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich, Germany where he finished third behind the Peter Schiergen-trained Neatico.
Farhh supplied Godolphin with their first Group 1 success of the British season with his Newbury victory and will be looking to bring up the stable’s ninth top division victory of 2013 when he faces the starter at Ascot on Saturday.
Although Bin Surour or Godolphin have never won the £1.3-million contest, several Dubai-owned horses have triumphed in the past.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who created the Godolphin stable in 1992, saw his maroon-and-white colours carried to victory in 1985 by Pebbles, Indian Skimmer in 1988 and Tel Quel in 1991.
Princess Haya Bint Hussain, wife of Shaikh Mohammad, won the race in 2008 with New Approach, while Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, lifted the glittering trophy in 2001 following the success of Nayef and repeated the feat in 2004 following Haafhd’s victory.
Shaikh Hamdan is represented this year by Mukhadram, who is likely to inject some strong pace into the ten-furlong contest.
Cirres Des Aigles has been targeted at this race and the soft ground at Ascot should be to his liking.
The line-up also includes Main Sequence, Parish Hall, Morandi and Triple Threat.
The Champion Stakes, one of the most prestigious in the country, has been around since 1877 and is open to all ages and both genders.
Among its past winners are the brilliant Brigadier Gerard, who won the race twice in 1971 and 1972.
Other outstanding winners include, Triptych, who also won it twice in the 1980’s, Pebbles, New Approach and the Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over, who is likely to be among the leading contenders in the ante-post betting again this year.
From 2009, the race joined the Breeders Cup Challenge series, which means the winner will receive a special invitation to run in the Breeders Cup Turf in America in November.
By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special ?Features Writer
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