Dubai horses target Royal Ascot Gold Cup

Emirati owned horses have a good record in the Gold Cup (G1), the showpiece race of Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, and four runners with Dubai connections will vie for honours in Thursday’s much-anticipated renewal of the 4,000 metre contest which is undeniably Britain’s most prestigious event for stayers. The Godolphin duo of Opinion Poll and Colour Vision head the charge with Nehaam hoping to give Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, a second success in the race which he won back in 1990 with Ashal. Gulf of Naples represents Princess Haya Bint Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who saw his colours carried to victory by Sadeem, a back-to-back winner in 1988-’89. Together the Dubai-owned quartet renew their rivalry with the big Irish favourite Fame And Glory who outstayed all of them to win this race 12 months ago.Fame And Glory subsequently went on to capture the inaugural British Champions Long Distance Cup at the same track at the end of last season and has since made a winning seasonal return in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan. Opinion Poll looks the one most likely to trouble the Irish stayer given the form he has displayed in winning the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March and the Henry II Stakes at Sandown on is return to Britain from Dubai. Dubai World Cup winning jockey Mickael Barzalona replaces regular rider Frankie Dettori aboard the Mahmoud Al Zarouni-trained six-year-old, with the Italian booked for duty on Saeed Bin Surour’s up-and-coming stayer Colour Vision. Al Zarouni does not mask his love for his star when he says: “This is a horse that I love, he always does what’s asked of him and does it right. “Obviously the Gold Cup represents a very tough challenge but I think he’s in the best form he could be and I’m hoping for a very good run from him at Ascot. “He has the experience and I just hope he runs his race — breaks well, settles down and then makes his move when Mickael asks him to.” Al Zarouni’s work-mate Bin Surour knows a thing or two about winning a competitive event like the Gold Cup having previously lifted the trophy on four occasion following rousing performances by Classic Cliché (1996), the brilliant Kayf Tara (1998 and 2000) and Papineau (2004). In Colour Vision he has a horse on the up and will be hoping that he can make a big impression at the big occasion. Colour Vision made a pleasing debut when winning the Sagaro Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton Park on his British debut. John Oxx’s Doncaster Cup winner Saddler’s Rock, Askar Tau, Bridge Of Gold and Caucus are the other contenders in the Gold Cup with is the first leg of Britain’s Stayers’ Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup. The Gold Cup is also one of three perpetual trophies at the Royal Ascot meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen’s Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.from gulfnews.com