Dubai Honour and Annaf star as Newcastle hosts a big race double-header on Saturday.
Dubai Honour bids to continue William Haggas’ fine run of form in the BetUK Churchill Stakes the first of two Listed races at Newcastle on Saturday.
A dual Gr1 winner in Australia last year, Dubai Honour added a third top-level prize to his CV when taking the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June.
The six-year-old has already recorded Listed success on the all-weather this year, with an impressive display in the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton Park.
Annaf winning the 2023 BetUK Kachy Stakes (Pic – John Hoy supplied by AWC)
Dubai Honour concedes upwards of 7lb to his nine rivals, including the 111-rated Peace Man, who has posted two promising comeback efforts at Newmarket recently.
John & Thady Gosden’s five-year-old finished third behind stable-mate Lead Artist in the Gr3 Darley Stakes – his first start for 470 days – before going down by a nose to Bolster in the Listed James Seymour Stakes on November 2.
His jockey Robert Havlin said: “Peace Man’s first run back was satisfactory and then he took a nice step forward in the Listed race. I actually could not believe I got beat because he was in front a stride before the line and a stride after. He was just unlucky not to get the bob.
“I rode him this morning and he seems fresh and well. We just hope that the race two weeks ago on heavy ground has not taken too much out of him because we think a stiff mile and a quarter at Newcastle will play to his strengths.
“It is going to be a tough race with the likes of Dubai Honour and Tyrrhenian Sea, who is a very decent horse on the all-weather, but we think Peace Man is capable of producing a big effort.”
All-weather specialist Tyrrhenian Sea makes his first appearance for Roger Varian since finishing third in February’s Gr3 BetUK Winter Derby at Southwell.
Andrew Balding’s runner The Foxes is looking to rediscover his 2023 form, which included success in the Gr2 Dante Stakes and a second in the Gr1 Belmont Derby.
The lineup also features Gr3 Jebel Ali Mile victor Swing Vote, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford, and William Knight’s Gr2-winning stalwart Sir Busker.
Annaf is the headline act in the BetUK Golden Rose Stakes as he drops down in class after finishing ninth in Ascot’s Gr1 British Champions Sprint.
A winner of the Gr2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, the five-year-old has won five of his 11 starts on the all-weather, including the Listed BetUK Kachy Stakes in 2023.
Trainer Mick Appleby said: “Annaf is in good order. His last couple of runs have been on testing ground, which isn’t really suitable for him, but we know he goes well on the all-weather and he should have a leading chance.
“It is more than likely he will go out to Saudi again for the race he won last year. We will keep him on the go during the winter and he will probably run in the Kachy Stakes beforehand, following a similar plan to last year.”
The opposition includes Night Raider, who is unbeaten in three starts on the all-weather for Karl Burke, latterly taking a Kempton Park conditions race in dominant fashion.
Willem Twee, who won this race for James Fanshawe at Lingfield Park 12 months ago, was seventh behind Night Raider at Kempton Park but had previously defied a big weight in a Racing League handicap at Wolverhampton.
Archie Watson has two live contenders in dual course scorer Albasheer and Saint Lawrence, who finished third in last year’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Wiltshire was an eye-catching handicap winner at the track in June for William Haggas. He is joined by stable-mate Pink Crystal, who was third behind Annaf in the Gr3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot last year.
Other notable contenders include the John & Thady Gosden-trained Orne, who was placed in two Listed races on the all-weather last season, and Julie Camacho’s 2023 Ayr Gold Cup victor Significantly.
The first at Newcastle is due off at 03h35 on Saturday.
