The perfect underdog story will unfold at the Dubai World Cup on 5 April, as Quinault goes in search of a first Group 1 success in the Al Quoz Sprint (sponsored by Azizi Developments).
It will also mark something of a full circle as the five-year-old left Dubai-based Godolphin three years ago after finishing last on his only start for Charlie Appleby.
Quinault winning at Ascot (Pic – Ascot Racecourse)
The sprinter was purchased for just 25,000gns by TJE Racing at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale in October 2022 and was sent across Newmarket to the yard of Stuart Williams.
He embarked on an unprecedented winning spree as a three-year-old, winning off a mark of 59 at Chelmsford in April 2023 and adding six more successes to reach a rating of 102.
While he defeated the subsequent July Cup winner Mill Stream in July of that year, last season he proved that effort no fluke with a hat-trick of Listed wins at Chester, Newmarket and York.
Quinault’s first two international trips went without a hitch and he showed his versatility with two third places in the Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise on heavy at Chantilly in October and in the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar on good last month.
His most recent performance, a running-on third to Rogue Lightning at Al Uqda, caught the attention of Dubai officials and led to Williams accepting a last-minute invitation for one of the most prestigious cards on the racing calendar.
“It’s very exciting,” the trainer said on Monday ahead of his first trip to the emirate. “We nominated him in January and we got accepted to run in Qatar.
“He ran a good race there, just getting caught a bit wide on the bend, and I was contacted last week and they said they’d like to invite him.
“He’ll be my first runner in Dubai and we’re excited by the thought of going. We want to be competitive and I think on his best form he can be.”
Despite having 22 races, Quinault is still only a five-year-old and Williams is hoping there is more improvement to come. He also has an eye on a new Group 1 contest later in the year.
He said: “He’s been a superstar for the stable for the last two years and I still think he might still be improving. He’s from a German family which is late developing and sons of Oasis Dream tend to get better with age as well.
“He’s a big horse and he’s settling into his racing a lot more now. In the autumn we decided we’d campaign him in these types of races, so we’ve kept him ticking over with this plan in mind.
“He might have a break when he gets back, so that might rule Ascot out, but I’d still like to try him over seven furlongs at some stage. The new Group 1 at York [City of York Stakes] in August would be exciting.”
While particularly mindful of the Japanese challenge, Williams believes Quinault has what it takes to compete with his fellow British runners given the Al Quoz will represent his optimum conditions.
He said: “We’ve run against Regional a couple of times. Audience is trying a different trip, which didn’t work for him on Champions Day, and Believing ran in all the top sprints last year. I don’t think we’re that far behind them.
“He runs well on a straight track and he’s won at York twice, which I’d imagine would be quite similar to Meydan. Everyone says the track is a super surface, so I’m hoping it will suit him.”
Quinault will be ridden by Marco Ghiani, who has a record of four wins and three thirds on the gelding, and will hope to advertise the talents of his small but highly capable stable.
“It will be exciting to be a part of it on the big night,” Williams said. “We haven’t been involved in anything this big abroad before, so it will be new to us. We’ll be looking forward to the experience.
“Quinault is an absolute dude, he’s the sweetest horse and very much a yard favourite.”
