His Highness the Aga Khan's 2015 G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) looms the class of the field in Saturday's 3200-metre G2 Dubai Gold Cup. The lightly raced French highweight is in the midst of a five-race winning streak and aims to add win number six in the $1-million contest, his first attempt at the distance and first start since last October's Prix Royal-Oak, where he had Godolphin's Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) back in fifth. A progressive winner of the 3000-metre G3 Prix de Lutece at Longchamp last September and the G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay over that course-and- distance Oct. 3 for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, Vazirabad will carry only 120 pounds in the 11-strong field, with the multiple stakes-placed filly Paradise (Ger) (Samum {Ger}) slipping in at an impost of 116 for breeder Gestut Karlshof.
“Vazirabad is very calm and relaxed,” commented de Royer-Dupre Friday morning. “We had a bit of trouble with him during the trip over. He got anxious for a couple of hours and hence lost quite some weight. However, he has put that weight back on again. He is eating well and now there is no reason why he shouldn't run well. However, my impression is good.”
A winner of the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly going 1 1/2 miles May 31, Manatee ran fourth to dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud June 28. Unplaced returning off a more than three-month layoff in last year's Arc Oct. 4 directly prior to the Prix Royal Oak, Manatee resurfaced two starts later with a runner-up finish in a 1 3/16-mile allowance over the Chantilly all-weather Mar. 3. He is joined in the starting gate by fellow Godolphin entry Haafaguinea (GB) (Haafhd {GB}), who made a successful 2016 bow in a Meydan handicap Jan. 21 before running second to Godolphin representative and G1 Jebel Hatta hero Tryster (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. Feb. 18, and third in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold to Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) Mar. 5.
South African Mike de Kock sends out two hopefuls in the form of the durable Star Empire (SAf) (Second Empire {Ire}) and South African multiple graded winner and Grade 1-placed Tellina (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}). The former finished third in the 2014 version of the Dubai Gold Cup to the reopposing Paul Rooney-owned Certerach (Ire) (Halling), and went one better in last year's edition behind the star-crossed G1 Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}). In his latest run, Star Empire completed the trifecta in the Mar. 3 G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy behind Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Certerach, with Feb. 18 G3 Dubai Millennium S. third Meadow Creek (GB) (Dansili {GB}) a dead-heat fourth, and G1 Vodacom Durban July third-place finisher Tellina sixth.
Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) has been targeting this fixture since a fifth-place run in the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup Nov. 3. A winner of the G2 Princess Of Wales Arqana Racing Club S. at Newmarket in July, the Michael Bell trainee doubled up going 3200 metres in the G2 Qatar Goodwood Cup later that month, two starts before his Melbourne Cup effort.
“He was very ill with travel sickness on his return from Australia, albeit for a mercifully short time, but he is back in fighting form now and in with a realistic chance,” said Bell.
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