Dubai Warrior begins his All-Weather Championships campaign in the Listed Betway Churchill Stakes at Lingfield Park this afternoon, the first of two Fast-Track Qualifiers on the card.
Trained by John Gosden, Dubai Warrior (Robert Havlin) won all three of his starts during last season’s championships, including dominant victories over the course and distance in the Listed Betway Quebec Stakes in December and the G3 Betway Winter Derby in February.
Talented Dubai Warrior in action
Dubai Warrior has been off the track since finishing fifth in a Listed race on turf at Sandown Park in July. Betway make him the 4/7 favourite.
Sinjaari (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) is aiming to bounce back from a below par performance in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on September 26. The four-year-old had previously come with a storming run to land the prestigious John Smith’s Cup at York in July.
Palavecino (Brian Meehan/Martin Dwyer) made great strides during the summer, landing three handicaps in four starts, and took another step forward last time out when second in the Listed Floodlit Stakes over 12 furlongs at Kempton Park on November 2.
Trainer Brian Meehan said today: “Palavecino is in very good form after a great run in the Floodlit.
“He has been a big improver this season and, in fairness, we have always felt that he could be up to this sort of level, even at the beginning of the year.
“It will be interesting to see how gets on this weekend, as I think the 10 furlongs around Lingfield is absolutely perfect for him.”
Japanese bred colt Satono Japan (Sir Michael Stoute/William Buick), a son of Deep Impact, out of dual G1 winner Dubawi Heights, is the least exposed runner in the field. He looked a prospect when scoring on debut at Kempton Park in October 2019, though his only start since came when third in a novice race at Wolverhampton on October 17.
Golden Lips (Harry Dunlop/Josephine Gordon), runner-up in the Listed Lingfield Park Oaks Trial in June, completes the five runners.
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