De Royer Dupre Seeks Dubai Hat Trick

Zarak | DRC/Neville Hopwood

French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has enjoyed victories with Aga Khan colourbearers on the last two renewals of Dubai World Cup night, and on Saturday he counts on Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) and Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) to make it three straight.

The 5-year-old Vazirabad won last year's G2 Dubai Gold Cup on his seasonal debut, but this year the grey prepped for his title defense with a second in the G3 Nad Al Sheba trophy at Meydan on Feb. 23. De Royer Dupre explained, “Last year Vazirabad had to battle to win. It was a hard race, as he hadn't had a prep race. So this year we thought it better to bring him over early and give him a run. He doesn't do much in the morning. Since we have had him, we have always known that he is better on his second or third start.”

'TDN Rising Star' Zarak, meanwhile, got his season off to a winning start with a smart score in Meydan's G3 Dubai Millennium S. on Feb. 16. Despite winning just one of six starts last year at three Zarak ran with credit, finishing second to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in both the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. He runs in the G1 Dubai Turf on Saturday.

“He has grown quite a bit since last year and while the race is tough, with some serious horses like last year's [G1] Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Ribchester, I'm hopeful he will run well. What is important for us is that the horse is well.”

De Royer Dupre was in attendance for the final piece of serious work for both horses last Tuesday.

“I took them to work on the grass on the training track, as the track is slightly softer than the track at Meydan,” he noted. “Zarak worked with a lead horse who came from France. He worked well and quickened well and I'm very happy with him. He wasn't 100% fit for his last race, which he won well. And he has come on from that. As to Vazirabad, he did a good canter, but didn't need to work like Zarak, as he only ran four weeks ago. From now on, they are just doing some light exercise.”

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