By Emma Berry
NEWMARKET, UK—Dubai may be a far cry from Ascot, but this weekend's World Cup meeting at Meydan will include the first qualifying race for the newly expanded Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million, which is now in its second year.
The G2 Dubai Gold Cup is the seasonal launchpad for Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who can be considered one of a number of potential challengers to the reigning champion stayer and inaugural £1 million bonus winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Bjorn Nielsen's homebred demonstrated his wellbeing when asked to parade during the official launch of the 2019 series in Newmarket, looking full of zest as he reared several times for onlookers at John Gosden's Clarehaven Stables.
“He is in great order and has just started building up his preparation, and all being well we will go to the Yorkshire Cup,” said Gosden of the 5-year-old entire. “We've just been doing the usual canters on Warren Hill. He has had a great winter. He is not a big horse, but he has thickened out and strengthened.”
Stradivarius looks likely to chart the same course in attempting to net the bonus for the second time but he could face stiffer competition this year with the number of qualifying races having been doubled to eight, and now taking place in Dubai, France, Germany and Ireland as well as England.
“We dipped our toe in the water last year as regards qualifying races but we thought we would extend it to Europe and Dubai this year,” explained Charles Hamilton, CEO of Weatherbys Hamilton.
He added, “From the moment that Stradivarius crossed the line in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York last year, it was always our intention to continue with the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million if we possibly could, given the phenomenally successful way it drew attention to the stayers. It is very gratifying to be closely associated with a group of horses whose survival is so vital to the health and diversity of the racing and breeding industries and to witness the effect that the Million has had in promoting them.”
Hoppegarten's G2 Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen, to be run this year on May 12, is another race to have been added to the list of qualifiers. Owner-breeder Gerhard Schoningh, who also owns Hoppegarten racecourse in Berlin, was in Newmarket for the launch and reported increased interest in the race from outside Germany for this season.
“As well as a good number of German horses, we have 17 entries from Ireland and 11 from Willie Mullins alone,” said Schoningh. “Germany is a small breeding country but staying horses are really our strength so it is wonderful to be part of the series and to showcase what Germany is really good at.”
Among the Mullins horses entered are the G1 Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), Cheltenham Festival-winning mare Limini (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and G2 Doncaster Cup winner Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling), who was second to Stradivarius on his seasonal swansong in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Gosden, who will also be pointing Juddmonte's Weekender (GB) (Frankel {GB}) towards the series despite a minor setback which has ruled him out of competing in the Dubai Gold Cup, added, “It is great that they have opened it right up. Obviously you have the Dubai Gold Cup this Saturday and a race in Germany, France and Ireland. With a bit of luck you will have seven or eight going to the Ascot Gold Cup, all eligible for the bonus.
“Weekender might well go for it. He was going to Dubai, but he got a cut that wasn't healing correctly on his leg so I didn't want to travel him. A race like the Sagaro Stakes would be a very likely spot for him.”
The eight qualifying races for the 2019 Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million are:
- Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (Dubai), March 30
- Vintage Crop Stakes (Navan), April 28
- Longines Sagaro Stakes (Ascot), May 1
- Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes (Chester), May 9
- Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen (Berlin-Hoppegarten), May 12
- Matchbook Yorkshire Cup (York), May 17
- Matchbook Henry II Stakes (Sandown Park), May 23
- Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (ParisLongchamp), May 26
The winner of any one of the qualifying races then has to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot before going on to snare the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup and G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York's Ebor Meeting.
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