Big Plans For Qatari Champion

Having become the first Qatari to train a winner in England courtesy of Dubday (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood July 31, trainer Jassim Al Ghazali now has his sights set on targets even further afield.

Owners Al Shaqab Racing are strongly considering aiming Dubday at the G1 Melbourne Cup following his defeat of The Corsican (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})July 31. In the meantime, a trip to France is on the cards for the horse who is unbeaten in Qatar.

“At the moment we are thinking of taking him over for the G2 Prix Foy,” said Al Shaqab Racing Manager Harry Herbert said. “After that we’ll be having a serious think about the Melbourne Cup. I’d personally love him to go, because he’s a mile-and-a-half horse who stays further with a turn of foot, he ticks a lot of the boxes. I think he’d be competitive in it and how often are you going to come across a horse with the right credentials.”

Herbert also noted, “Sheikh Joaan really likes the plan, and unless you go out and buy a horse specifically for the race, you don’t get many opportunities to have a runner.”