Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) will bid to return to winning ways when making his first start since the G1 2000 Guineas in the G3 Prix Messidor at Maisons-Laffitte on July 16. After swerving outings in the G1 French Derby and G1 Prix Jean Prat, the Andre Fabre-trained 3-year-old is now being readied for a tilt at the one-mile contest next weekend. Having tasted victory in his first three starts, the son of Dream Ahead suffered the first defeat of his career when finishing third in the opening colts' Classic at Newmarket in May.
Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing, said, “Andre Fabre wants to bring him back steady and get him back on track. He has trained him beautifully and he will prepare him for the Messidor. It will be an interesting race for him. The Guineas came early enough for him one way or another and he has just given the horse chance to develop and mature and put some condition back on. There was nothing seriously wrong since the Guineas, the master trainer just didn't feel he was back to his peak. We seriously considered the Prix du Jockey Club and that was the primary target for him, but Andre didn't feel happy enough with the horse–thankfully we had a good substitute in Brametot.”
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