England: Dabyah's proven form on course may be key in Dubai Duty Free Stakes
Local experience may help Dabyah win the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Newbury Racecourse in England.
The $76,800 Dubai Duty Free at seven furlongs on turf is a key prep for the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 7, a race in which Dabyah was listed as a 12-1 shot with British bookmakers as of Thursday.
Dabyah won an allowance race at Newbury last September and was third in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly, France, last October in her final start of the year. Trained by John Gosden, Dabyah has won 2 of 3 starts and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Dabyah’s main rival in the field of 11 fillies is Queen Kindly, who won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last August and was later fourth to Brave Anna in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September.
The Dubai Duty Free is followed on the Newbury program by the Group 3 JLT Greenham Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at seven furlongs, a prep for the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.
The Greenham drew a competitive field of 10, including the late-developing Dream Castle, who won his debut against maidens at Doncaster on April 2. By Frankel, Dream Castle is trained by Saeed Bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing and was a 16-1 shot for the 2000 Guineas as of Thursday.
Godolphin also starts Barney Roy, who won a maiden race last September at Haydock Park and was later acquired privately. Richard Hannon trains Barney Roy.
War Secretary, a Kentucky-bred colt trained by Aidan O’Brien, will have his turf stakes debut in the Greenham. War Secretary has won twice on the all-weather surface at Dundalk, Ireland, including the minor Patton Stakes at seven furlongs on April 12.
The richest race in Great Britain on Saturday is the $275,200 Scottish Grand National steeplechase, which drew a field of 30 going 3 7/8 miles at Ayr Racecourse.
Premier Bond, third in an amateur steeplechase at Cheltenham in March, was the 8-1 favorite as of Thursday, a slight choice over 9-1 Southfield Royale, who fell in the same amateur chase, and 10-1 Vicente, who won the 2016 Scottish Grand National.
Vicente fell at the first fence in the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on April 8.