Both stallions offer breeders unique and affordable opportunities for the season ahead and complement Orlandi's growing roster which includes Far Above (Ire), Kuroshio (Aus), Smooth Daddy and Galileo Chrome (Ire).

“It's a great honour to stand a son of Dubawi (Ire),” said Orlandi of Dubawi Legend's sire line. “He was Champion European Sire last year and as we've seen with sons of Dubawi in the shape of New Bay (GB), Night of Thunder (Ire), Zarak (Fr) etc, he's proved to be a sire of sires.”

As well as being from one of the strongest sire lines shaping the breed currently, Dubawi Legend also had other attributes which attracted Orlandi to him.

“He was a top-class 2-year-old,” explained Orlandi. “He was the second highest-rated 2-year-old of his year, he was pipped to being champion by Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who beat him in the G1 Dewhurst S. His 3-year-old campaign might not have gone exactly to plan but he still showed a lot of speed and won a Group 3 in Germany. He's run enough to show that he is sound and consistent, and he has retired sound of limb and wind.”

Describing his conformation, Orlandi added, “He's 16hh and he has great limbs on him. He's a dark bay with no white on him, which is important to some breeders, as well as having a lovely action.”

Although Dubawi Legend didn't arrive at the yard until January, Orlandi has been pleased with the amount of footfall he has seen in those all-important pre-season months.

“The most mares we have covered with a stallion was 140 and that was for Far Above,” said Orlandi. “Judging by the traction we had with him before his first season compared to the traction we have had for Dubawi Legend, I would envisage we will cover the same number if not more. He's the most popular stallion we have ever retired to stud, bringing in not just my existing clients but also new breeders.”

Orlandi's other recruit, King Of Change, has two seasons at stud under his belt and his first crop of foals were popular at the 2022 foal sales. His top lot came courtesy of a Mareshah Stud-consigned colt at the Goffs November Foal Sale who sold for €50,000 and buyers included the likes of WH Bloodstock, Whatton Manor Stud, Peter and Ross Doyle among others.

“Some might say we are cornering the market of having sons Of Farhh (GB) given that we have Far Above here too,” joked Orlandi. “King Of Change is probably Farhh's leading son because he was second in the Guineas, he won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and he's a beautiful, big, imposing horse with a fantastic walk.”

“He spent two seasons at Derrinstown,” explained Orlandi. “He was a stallion prospect we enquired about before he retired to stud but it wasn't meant to be then, but he's joined us now and we are delighted to have him. Those people who sold foals by him or who have yearlings by him now are coming back to use him this year and we had a limited number of breeding rights to sell which went down very well.”

Everyone knows that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it in any facet of the industry, but it can be especially hard to be an independent stallion operator. Orlandi's Compas Stallions first started back in 2016 with Showcasing (GB)'s Cappella Sansevero (GB) and he has come a long way since then to now be fully established at Starfield Stud with an expanding roster of young stallions.

Reflecting on the business, Orlandi said, “It's going really well to be honest, we are still in business and that's the trick, to stay afloat. We've taken a long-term view that hopefully we can stand stallions successfully and that doesn't just mean that we make a business out of it but that we stand stallions that can impact the breed forevermore.”

With the season in full swing and hopefully many horse boxes navigating their way to the Irish midlands, maybe it won't be long before Compas Stallions puts Orlandi on the global map.

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Legend Heads Strong Palmer Challenge

Sunday's G3 Goldene Peitsche winner Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been given the go-ahead to back up for the race and will be one of the pace angles breaking from stall four along with the forward-going Art Power and Naval Crown. Dr. Ali Ridha's 'TDN Rising Star' is one of a trio from Hugo Palmer's Manor House Stables alongside Chasemore Farm's G2 Greenlands S. winner Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and the G1 Commonwealth Cup runner-up Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}). “It will be very special when we get a first Group 1 from Manor House, after a Group 2 winner and a Group 1 second, and I'm really looking forward to running all three of them,” the trainer told QIPCO British Champions Series. “If it rains I suspect that Brad The Brief has the best chance, but the other two are entries in a stallion-making race, so any one of the three would be wonderful.”

Explaining the absence of Brad The Brief since his career-best in the Greenlands and the Curragh May 21, Palmer added, “It was very quick ground when we were considering the Maurice De Gheest and then he was a non-runner after being declared for the City Of York. He doesn't need it soft–there was no real cut in it at The Curragh–but he doesn't want fast ground, and having waited so long I wouldn't want to go and jar him up out of frustration. Dubai Legend is amazing. He was very happy and fresh when we gave him a quiet canter on Wednesday morning and although it's a big leap from a German Group 3 we are keen to give it a go.”

Ryan Team Wait On The Weather

Last year's Sprint Cup winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) is in stall 13, but has the front-running G2 King George S. scorer Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) alongside in 12 in what should prove a fascinating encounter. Of more concern than the draw is the effect of the forecast rain, with jockey Andrea Atzeni hoping that it avoids Haydock so as not to diminish the prospect of the first dual winner since 1967. “He likes a strong pace to run at, which he should get once again, but the major key to him is the ground,” he told QIPCO British Champions Series. “We got lucky last year as it was very fast, which is just how he likes it, so ideally we don't want too much rain. I did say to Kevin earlier this year that I thought he might come good in the autumn again, and he's going to Haydock with a very similar profile to last year.”

Tasso Set For Clash

The final field for Sunday's G1 152nd Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden was also established on Thursday, with Gestut Auenquelle's Arc hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in line for his title defence as he limbers up for his return to ParisLongchamp in four weeks' time. Gestut Park Wiedingen's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) receives seven pounds weight-for-age from the Frankie Dettori-ridden 5-year-old, with Rene Piechulek forced to miss out to honour his retainer on last year's G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern runner-up Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) as five head to post. In a twist, Piechulek had also partnered Sammarco to success in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis with Bauyrzhan Murzabayev out of action, but that rider is back on board the 3-year-old this time.

Click here for the group fields.

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Minzaal bounces back to form in some style, capturing the £60,000 G3 @bet365 Hackwood Stakes for @ojburrows74, @JimCrowley1978, @ShadwellStud & @hissa_hamdan

Results & free replays https://t.co/sBcsavpOzF pic.twitter.com/TRTvDZBfPP

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022

Absent for a year after his juvenile-campaign closer when third in Newmarket's G1 Middle Park S., Minzaal had been straight back on track when second in Ascot's Listed Rous S. before running third in that track's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. Third on his seasonal bow in the May 11 G2 1895 Duke Of York S., the bay had gone off piste for the first time in the Platinum Jubilee but was still only just over four lengths in arrears. For Burrows, that performance may have been down to the application of headgear. “We tried something at Ascot, putting the cheekpieces on him, as he is so laid-back and it didn't work,” he explained. “Jim just felt he travelled a bit too well off a strong pace and he was bang there a furlong and a half down, but within that last furlong he was a spent force. We went back to what we know and we are thrilled to get him back. Quite often there is a little bit of juice in the ground at Haydock, so the Sprint Cup is on the cards.”

Minzaal's unraced dam Pardoven (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), whose 2-year-old Maxi King (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) was a 280,000gns purchase by A C Elliott at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and whose yearling daughter of Footstepsinthesand (GB) was bought by Grande Ville Breeding for 80,000gns at the latest edition of that auction, is kin to four black-type performers headed by the G3 Gordon S. runner-up Firebet (Ire) (Dubai Destination). Their dam, the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial-placed Dancing Prize (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a full-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Dance To The Top (GB) whose progeny list is headed by the G2 Al Fahidi Fort winner and G1 Dubai Duty Free runner-up Bankable (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy scorer Cheshire (GB) (Warning {GB}).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BET365 HACKWOOD S.-G3, £60,000, Newbury, 7-16, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.37, g/f.
1–MINZAAL (IRE), 135, c, 4, by Mehmas (Ire)
     1st Dam: Pardoven (Ire), by Clodovil (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Dancing Prize (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
     3rd Dam: Aim For The Top, by Irish River (Fr)
(85,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 140,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £34,026. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 9-3-1-3, $263,824. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Go Bears Go (Ire), 133, c, 3, Kodi Bear (Ire)–In Dubai, by Giant's Causeway. (£50,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY; 150,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing; B-Micheal D Ryan (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £12,900.
3–Dubawi Legend (Ire), 130, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Lovely Pass (Ire), by Raven's Pass. O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £6,456.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, NK. Odds: 4.00, 14.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Rohaan (Ire), Happy Romance (Ire), Man of Promise, Great Ambassador (GB), Chil Chil (GB), Royal Commando (Ire), Diligent Harry (GB), Sam Maximus (GB), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Method (Ire). Scratched: Run To Freedom (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Native Trail and Coroebus are among the top two choices for Saturday's feature in addition to unbeaten Group 1 winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is one of three potential Ballydoyle representatives along with Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

Also included among this season's Classic contenders is Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was only two lengths behind Native Trail when runner-up in last year's G1 Dewhurst S.     “His turn of foot and his change of gear is what's exciting about him,” said trainer Hugo Palmer, who won the 2000 Guineas six years ago with Galileo Gold. “On a rating of 115, he was the joint second highest-rated 2-year-old in Europe. Galileo Gold at the same stage was rated 110, so he is the best 2-year-old I've trained without a doubt.”

Tom Marquand has been booked to ride the colt.

In regard to his competition, Palmer added, “Native Trail beat a whole lot of maiden winners and horses that were 50-1 for the Guineas in the Craven. At the same time, I don't think William Buick had to hit him more than once and he beat them three and a half lengths and you don't know what was there.”

“I think it's going to be a pretty big field on Saturday. There's 19 left in and you don't stay in for free, so you must stay in with the thought of you're going to run.”

“I can't help but think a bigger field will hinder Native Trail as there'll be some non-stayers stopping in front of him. There'll be some non-stayers stopping in front of us as well, of course.”

Palmer recently moved from Newmarket to Cheshire to replace Tom Dascombe at the helm at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables.

Other contenders include Richard Fahey's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), who won two Group 1s last season and made a successful return in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury Apr. 16.

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Palmer, who moved to Michael Owen's Manor House Stables recently, said, “That was just what we wanted. It was a really solid piece of work. Michael Hills who rode Power Of States said he was flat out from the three which is what we wanted him to do and really draw the 3-year-old into the work which he did.

“Tom said he was beautifully relaxed and that he was switched off in behind and finished really well. Tom said he would have no qualms about him staying the mile and that he felt great.

“Tom came and rode him at Wolverhampton a couple of weeks ago. We were happy with him a couple of weeks ago and we were happy with him that day, but he has stepped forward massively from that day to here–which is what you want them to do.

“We are 18/19 days out now and we are bang on track. He is not there yet but today is not Guineas day. Tom was happy with him, and I couldn't be happier as a result.

Palmer saddled 2016 Guineas victor Galileo Gold (Ire) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and added, “I think Tom would love to ride him in the Guineas the way he was talking there but he has got commitments elsewhere. Equally, if for whatever reason Charlie Appleby only ran one in the Guineas and James Doyle became available then he is James's ride first and foremost. James has sat on him lots and it was good for Tom to sit on him today and have another feel. It could be an opportunity if we are looking for someone else.”

Another out for a spin over the Newmarket turf was Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's listed winner Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The Kevin Ryan trainee was last seen in action winning Haydock's Listed Ascendant S. on Sept. 4 over the 1600-metre Guineas trip. He galloped solo under Andrea Atzeni.

Ryan said, “He has been away from home at Redcar and I felt it was good to give him a feel of the track down here. He has come from the seven and really quickened into the dip and out of it. He took a fair bit of pulling up. Everything has gone to plan and Andrea was delighted with him. He is well on target for the big day.

“He is a quick horse and doesn't need a lead horse. We are not particularly worried about ground conditions with him. The Haydock race was always the plan for him. He was an immature horse and we finished him after that.”

Also under consideration for the first colts' Classic of the season is Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's dual group winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Victorious in the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Royal Lodge S. in succession last August and September, respectively, the dark bay faded to last in the G1 Trophy S. at Doncaster after making the running in soft going on Oct. 23. He pleased father-son trainers Charlie and Mark Johnston when seen in action with stablemates I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Highland Premier (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}) over seven furlongs on Tuesday.

Johnston said, “Whether he is going to the Guineas or straight to the [G2] Dante [S.] it is still good to have had a racecourse gallop. There was some question to see how much speed he has got.

“They've not hung about there and we wanted to see if he could travel comfortably at that pace and Jason [Hart] said he travelled very easily. It was great to have the outing.”

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Said trainer Hugo Palmer, who is presently in negotiations to take over Michael Owen's Manor House Stables, “He has grown about an inch, which surprised me. He was probably barely 16 hands last year, so he has done well and he will very much have Guineas entries and probably a number of them.”

He added, “I don't think he will have a prep-run. He ended his year quite late and it was mid-November by the time he got back to England. He has had a nice break and he is the second-highest-rated 2-year-old in Europe, so I don't feel I need to go into a trial to prove he is good enough to justify his place in a Guineas.

“He handled the undulations at Newmarket very well and for a good deal of the last two furlongs, he looked the most likely winner in the Dewhurst. It would be quite hard not to go to Newmarket, for all the while that Newmarket will probably be the strongest race.

“In the back of my mind he has always shown an enormous amount of speed and I believe that he will stay a mile. I don't think he will ever get further.”

Two other juvenile stars for Palmer, G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. victor Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and the dual group-placed Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will not head to any Classic engagements, but will be kept over sprinting trips.

“The plan at the moment is definitely not the Guineas,” Palmer said of Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River. “We explored seven furlongs twice last year, once relatively satisfactorily, but still not the answer we wanted and the second time very unsatisfactorily. I am content to say that this is not a miler.

“I think, all being well, he will start in the Pavilion S. [at Ascot on Apr. 27], which is the course and distance of the Commonwealth Cup and we will see how we get on there. I would like to think he will go Pavilion, Sandy Lane S. [at Haydock on May 21], Ascot–but the [G1] King's Stand could just be an option by that stage. He could go King's Stand and [G1] Commonwealth Cup.”

Third in the G3 Sirenia S. on Sept. 4, the Qatar Racing and David Howden-owned colt was second in the G2 Mill Reef S. later that month and was a close sixth in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November.

“Hierarchy has done really well,” he said. “He has broadened and shrunk down on his legs a little bit without massively growing upwards.

“He has the option of coming back to the King's Stand. It would be a pain to consistently run my two fastest horses against each other. But they will be racing against each other if they had different trainers. We have to treat each horse individually.”

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“He's come out of the race great,” said trainer Hugo Palmer. “He ran an absolute blinder. He showed the world what we have always thought of him, that he is a 2-year-old out of the very top drawer. We've been excited about him for a long time and it was great he came and did that. He's a very exciting horse going forward.

“At the moment we are planning as if we are going to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He's going to need to be in top order for us to do that but he's come out of the race phenomenally well. He actually put on two kilogrammes for the run. He's a lightly-raced horse and he's had plenty of breaks through the season. The 2000 Guineas is a proper hustle and bustle race. I think the trip to Del Mar will really make him grow up.”

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With the benefit of hindsight, Native Trail's debut performance at Sandown June 11 looks even stronger now that the four-length runner-up Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has gone on to beat some of this card's leading protagonists in both the G2 Royal Lodge S. and G3 Acomb S. Upstaging Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) in a tight finish to the Superlative, Godolphin's top dog gunned down Ballydoyle's unbeaten TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the National to take on extra gravitas and may not have needed to fully repeat that form to double his group 1 tally here. “He's a gorgeous horse with tonnes of ability,” Buick added. “You wouldn't have expected them to come stand's side, but I did anticipate a tactical race and knew he would pick up once he got daylight. He's deservedly champion 2-year-old and could be absolutely anything. He minds himself at home and brings it on in the afternoon.”

What will emerge from elsewhere to challenge his pre-eminence in the 2000 Guineas next spring is unknown at this stage, but it could be that despite his impeccable credentials Native Trail is not even the best 2-year-old in his own stable. Debates will rage throughout the winter as to whether the preceding G3 Autumn S. winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the better of the pair, but for now Native Trail has the big title belts all to himself. “Had he not won the National Stakes in similar fashion, I would probably have been a bit twitchy passing halfway but knowing how this horse operates I was comfortable enough,” Appleby said. “He wasn't doing a stroke and was just going through the motions. One thing is for sure, he was not going to stop galloping once he got going and the way he accelerated there when really given the office was quite remarkable.”

“I can't see him getting any further than a mile personally, but he's an exciting Guineas horse along with Coroebus,” the Moulton Paddocks handler added. “His work at home prior to the National Stakes, you wouldn't be getting too excited but he's that sort of horse, he warms into a race and does it all the right way round and that's what we saw again today. There's a lot more to come, you'd like to say, but he is unbeaten with two group 1s. I'm not going to get too carried away. He's a big boy, 540 kilos, and came in at that weight from the breeze-ups. Full credit to the team who purchased him and Norman Williamson who consigned him. Since then, Norman has taken a keen interest.”

“Norman said after the National Stakes he still didn't know what he was doing and he was correct, because his work at home wasn't too exciting but he warms into a race and does it the right way round. I've never put him anywhere near Coroebus at home–they are different types. Coroebus travels very well and has a smart turn of foot, whereas this horse does things in a different manner.”

As Appleby stated, Native Trail was a 210,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up graduate and is the first runner for the unraced Juddmonte cast-off Needleleaf (GB) (Observatory) who was bought by the MAB Agency for just 60,000gns at the 2015 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She is a full-sister to the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Helleborine (GB), with the former producing the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Helleborine responsible for the G2 Coventry S.-winning sire Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

The second dam New Orchid (Quest For Fame {GB}), who was third in the G3 Lancashire Oaks, is a daughter of Musicanti (Nijinsky II) who also produced the 1999 Dewhurst hero and sire Distant Music from a mating with Observatory's sire Distant View. Musicanti is kin to the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, GI Washington D.C. International and GI Suburban H.-winning champion Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge) and to the dams of the GII Keeneland Turf Mile and G2 Prix Eugene Adam-winning sire Kirkwall (GB) (Selkirk) and to the GI American Oaks heroine Funny Moon (Malibu Moon). From the family of the GI Belmont S. hero and sire Temperence Hill, Needleleaf's yearling filly by Calyx's sire Kingman was bought by Godolphin for €950,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Sale. She also has a filly foal by Siyouni (Fr).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DARLEY DEWHURST S.-G1, £526,375, Newmarket, 10-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.82, gd.
1–NATIVE TRAIL (GB), 127, c, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB)
     1st Dam: Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory
     2nd Dam: New Orchid, by Quest for Fame (GB)
     3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
(€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras D'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £298,507. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 4-4-0-0, $692,565. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dubawi Legend (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Lovely Pass (Ire), by Raven's Pass. O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £113,171.
3–Bayside Boy (Ire), 127, c, 2, New Bay (GB)–Alava (Ire), by Anabaa. (200,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £56,638.
Margins: 2, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 12.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Berkshire Shadow (GB), Dhabab (Ire), Glounthaune (Ire), Go Bears Go (Ire), Straight Answer (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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With Ballydoyle's intended number one St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) sidelined due to a late setback, Aidan O'Brien has rerouted this term's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. third Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take his place in the day one feature. Last term's G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine was initially targetting Sunday's G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, but will fill the supersub role in a contest for the ages.

“It's four or five days earlier than we'd planned for her–the plan was to go for the Romanet on Sunday–but when St Mark's came out we decided we'd let her run here instead,” the trainer explained. “The King George was a little bit of a mess and we thought it would be an strongly run race, but it probably wasn't. The pace wasn't very fast for her, she likes an even pace and her racing tempo is much higher than they went. She still ran very well and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with her run. We saw all the things that went wrong for her, but she came out of the race well and, ideally, she wants an end-to-end gallop to see the best of her.

“She's in good form and the ground is important to her as she's such a beautiful mover, but we wouldn't like to run her on soft ground. She has a big, long stride and gallops with her head out. Usually, those type of horses can't quicken instantly as they need a big rhythm into the last four of five furlongs to see them at their best.”

Coolmore's homebred 4-year-old faces no easy task with several in opposition holding valid claims. Chief among them is Prince A A Faisal's King George runner-up Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of her in that 12-furlong test having previously run third to St Mark's Basilica in Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse. Last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero had previously plundered monster pots in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup and Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, and having conceded 11 pounds to the Classic generation at Ascot, is now tasked with a more amenable seven-pound weight-for-age pull.

“One horse isn't going to make a horse race and, even without St Mark's Basilica, it's still a very strong field and we have a lot of good opposition to take on,” said big-race jockey David Egan. “I was really pleased with how he progressed from the Eclipse to the King George and I thought the King George run was a fantastic run, finishing behind an absolute monster in Adayar, giving him so much weight.

“We don't need to give the 3-year-olds as much weight here and I think dropping my lad back to a mile-and-a-quarter will only play to his strengths. If Mishriff can improve as much as he did from the Eclipse to the King George, he's going to be hard to beat.”

Jeff Smith's Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) caused a 50-1 shock when becoming the first to lower the colours of Golden Horn (GB) (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the 2015 edition of this event and is represented by G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Coronation S. and G1 Nassau S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) this time around.

“She came out of Goodwood really well, I'll speak to Jeff and Andrew [Balding], but the key is to try to relax and follow for as long as possible,” said rider Oisin Murphy. “This is a completely different test and I have massive respect for Mishriff and Love.

“The Juddmonte International is often the highest-rated race in the world, this is a good renewal and I'm looking forward to it. I was fortunate to win it on a world champion 3-year-old in Roaring Lion and it would be nice to win it again. The owner is a brilliant sportsman and I'm sure he's very excited, as am I.”

Newmarket conditioner William Haggas is doubly represented and sends forth G2 King Edward VII S. victor Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and G3 Hampton Court S. scorer Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Both are coming back off their first defeats of the campaign, with Alenquer returning off a third in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris and Mohaafeth lining up off a third in the July 24 G2 York S. at this venue.

“The pacemaker went too slow and Jim [Crowley] was too far back,” Haggas said of the latter's latest run. “It was a mess, and you can put a line through it. Angus [Gold] felt that if you ignore that run and concentrated on the good bits he was well worth his chance here. The trip is fine and the ground should be okay too. He's got a bit to find, but he's useful.”

Turning to Alenquer, the trainer added, “The owners felt that as he had already won a Group 2 there was no point running in another one. They want to test him against the best, and he's very well. He's improving and you can put a line through his latest run at Longchamp as he was way too far back and never got into it at all. I don't think he's the soft or heavy ground horse that some have him down as, but he might just want a bit further. He's not a bad horse. It's an ambitious route for both horses, but they'll both run a good race. Whether they are good enough is another matter.”

Jim Bolger's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) finished off the board in both G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby after annexing the Curragh's May 22 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and tries this intermediate distance for first time since running fourth in the May 9 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on seasonal return. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Listed Wolferton S. winner Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel (GB), who finished one place ahead of the reopposing Mohaafeth when second in the G2 York S., completes the field.

Great Voltigeur a Classic Pointer

Elsewhere on the card, Godolphin's G2 Queen's Vase victor Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will seek to dent the G1 St Leger aspirations of most of his seven rivals in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. and will bid to record a second renewal for Charlie Appleby. He is accompanied by stablemate and fellow gelding Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who backed up a win in Newmarket's July 8 G3 Bahrain Trophy with a free-running sixth in the July 29 G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood.

Aidan O'Brien outstrips the Appleby representation by one and has nominated a trio of G1 St Leger entries for this £150,000 contest. It is headed by last term's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is on a retrieval mission after running third here in the May 13 G2 Dante S. and coming back off a compromised effort when 10th of 11 in the June 26 G1 Irish Derby.

“This will be a nice start back for him and we're looking forward to it,” the trainer said. “I suppose the year has been a bit of a mess for him and everything we've tried to do has gone wrong. He barely made it to the Dante and then we were going to run him in the [G1 Epsom] Derby, but didn't, and that probably broke his rhythm a bit by that happening. We then had to wait for the Curragh and he cut a heel in the race. He nearly went down, which lost his confidence, but we think, and hope, he should leave that run well behind him.

“He looks like a horse that would get a mile-and-a-half well as he was coming home very well in the Dante. He had a break after The Curragh, he's ready to start again and will improve. He's a big, powerful horse and I'd say there is no doubt he is still out of the top drawer. He will be a horse to look forward to next year and we think he has the class to be a top middle-distance horse yet.”

O'Brien has also nominated G1 Grand Prix de Paris fourth The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Gordon S. runner-up Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). “Sir Lucan had a very good run at Goodwood. It was his first run back after a break and Frankie [Dettori] rode him patiently. He came from the back and just got beat and has come out of that race well,” he added.

The Gordon S. reunion also features Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Epsom Derby fifth Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Ahmad Al Shaikh's G1 Epsom Derby eighth Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) representing Roger Varian and Andrew Balding, respectively.

Quintet of Acomb Contenders

The first pattern race of the week, the £100,000 G3 Tattersalls Acomb S., is a competitive affair albeit with just five contenders set for the seven-furlong test.

Dr. Ali Ridha's Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes his eagerly awaited return after earning 'TDN Rising Star' status with a five-length rout over this trip at Doncaster last month.

“We're obviously hopeful and he's a horse we've always held in high regard,” said trainer Hugo Palmer. “I'd have been disappointed if he hadn't won the way he did at Doncaster, we were hoping he would do something like that first time and he didn't disappoint. It's a race that is typical of the conditions of the Acomb and it's going to be a question of which maiden winner in the second half of July was the better one.

“His work on watered ground in Newmarket has been very pleasing and I would have thought anywhere between firm and good-to-soft and he'll be fine. It's just the second run of his life and two or three of the others have got more experience, but he hasn't missed a beat since Doncaster and goes there in great nick. Hopefully, he can run a big race.”

Godolphin's Newmarket maiden winner Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) ran third to subsequent G2 July S. victor Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in his June 19 debut and sports headgear once more for his third start here.

“Noble Truth progressed from his first start to win his maiden and has done well physically since,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “This will tell us the level we will be campaigning him at for the rest of the season.”

Opposition also includes Shadwell's 'TDN Rising Star' Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who encountered a race-fit Noble Truth when running on for a two-length second in his July 9 debut tackling seven furlongs at Newmarket.

“He ran very well first time at Newmarket and was impressive at Ascot,” commented racing manager Angus Gold. “He's done everything right so far, [trainer] Richard [Hannon] is very happy with the horse and he's giving him all the right signs at home.

“Obviously, it's a trappy little contest, but I think they feel Ehraz is above average on his home work and, all being well, he's a nice horse in the making. Like always, you've got to see them go and do it on the track.”

The line-up is completed by unbeaten Goodwood maiden scorer Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) representing Andrew Balding, and Mark Johnston trainee Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who return's off a five-length score at Epsom last month.

Yorkshire Oaks Field Takes Shape

Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks has attracted a select field of seven with a mouthwatering clash of the generations in store on day two of York's Ebor Festival.

Coolmore's Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is set to go postward at short odds and bids to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a sixth renewal of the £400,000 contest. She has drawn stall three for her attempt at emulating the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks treble of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and returns to the scene of her May 12 G3 Musidora S. triumph. O'Brien will also oversee outsiders Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who will break in tandem from boxes five and six.

Rivals also include Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who is drawn alongside the likely favourite in gate two.

“Obviously I'm hoping there's a bit more rain, but if the ground is good we'll give it a go,” revealed David Menuisier. “I've been in Deauville for four or five days and I've found that the ground is pretty chopped up. The weather forecast is not that positive for downpours and I'm sure the ground will be better in York than it is in Deauville.”

The trainer had initially booked Olivier Peslier to partner this term's G2 Hardwicke S. and G2 Lillie Langtry S. victrix, but the rider has undergone knee surgery and William Buick continues in the plate.

“William has been riding her and Olivier just had a little operation to get a chip removed in his knee,” he added. “Olivier is sidelined for a week to 10 days and I'm delighted to have William on board on Thursday.”

Kirsten Rausing's Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), the only other 4-year-old in the contest, renews rivalry with Wonderful Tonight in her third visit to the Knavesmire and the Ralph Beckett trainee is allocated stall seven. Lordship Stud's Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Shadwell's Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) cross swords once more, having finished first and second in Royal Ascot's June 17 G2 Ribblesdale S., and will exit gates four and one, respectively.

Click here for the group fields.

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Dubawi Legend, who was making his debut in the race in which Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) also earned TDN Rising Star status last year, is out of the talented Lovely Pass (Ire) (Raven's Pass) who raced for Charlie Appleby and was third in the Listed Chesham S. before going on to take the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and finish runner-up in the G3 UAE Oaks. Her dam is the G2 Falmouth S. winner Macadamia (Ire)(Classic Cliche {Ire}), who also produced the Listed Pipalong S. scorer Spirit Raiser (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and is a half to the group 3-winning Scandinavian champion Pistachio (GB) (Unblest {GB}) and the listed-winning and group-placed Captivator (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Lovely Pass's yearling colt is by Spirit Raiser's sire Invincible Spirit.

2nd-Doncaster, £7,000, Novice, 7-22, 2yo, 7f 6yT, 1:24.99, g/f.
DUBAWI LEGEND (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: Lovely Pass (Ire) (SW & GSP-UAE, SP-Eng, $230,835), by Raven's Pass
     2nd Dam: Macadamia (Ire), by Classic Cliche (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Cashew (GB), by Sharrood
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,184. O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post Dubawi Colt A New Rising Star At Doncaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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