By Sean Cronin
According to betting forecasts, Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes was at the mercy of Shadwell's G2 Rockfel Stakes fifth Touleen (Lope De Vega), but the Owen Burrows trainee had to give best to Opulence Thoroughbreds' Rockfel ninth Sukanya (Havana Grey), who produced a late surge to register a 16-1 surprise.
The winner does not hold an entry for Newmarket's G1 1000 Guineas, but remains engaged in the Irish equivalent.
“She's a very good filly and had a very high level of class last year,” insisted Channon. “My two-year-olds were very backwards last year and she was the obvious standout. She put in some very good performances against some very good fillies. She was an unlucky fourth behind Precise in the Prestige, then second to Diamond Necklace at Leopardstown, and was just a bit over the top in the Rockfel. I've told anyone who would listen over the last two weeks that this filly wouldn't finish outside of the first three and she's high class. She's got a devilish turn of foot and she's beaten a filly fancied for the Guineas on merit today.”
Looking ahead, the trainer added, “We'll campaign her in big races now. We would have to supplement for the 1000 Guineas and, before this, my thoughts were she wouldn't handle the dip. She needs top of the ground, but we'll see and I will discuss with the owners. My first reaction is I would like to go for the Irish 1000 Guineas, but if I have to have my arm twisted, I won't complain at having a runner at Newmarket.”
Settled towards the rear for most of this straight seven-furlong Classic prep, the Jack Channon-trained Listed Ingabelle Stakes runner-up and G3 Prestige Stakes fourth made eyecatching headway into contention approaching the final furlong and she kept on strongly in the closing stages to overpower the 5-4 favourite by 3/4-of-a-length in decisive fashion. Amo Racing's hitherto undefeated Domina Ignis (Pinatubo) was best of the rest and finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Reflecting on the performance of Touleen, Owen Burrows commented, “I have no real excuses, she just didn't quicken up as I've seen at home or as a two-year-old. Whether or not she's just a bit rusty, I don't know is the honest answer. Saffie [Osborne] said she was the last one to pull up and she purposely let her gallop out so I have no worries about going further. We'll see how she is and as long as she comes out of it all right, the Guineas wouldn't be out of the question. Maybe she is just a little rusty, but she didn't show the speed you saw the first two times she ran. Other than that she did everything else right and I'm perfectly happy other than finishing second.”
Pedigree Notes
Sukanya, who becomes the 15th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the seventh of eight foals and lone black-type performer, from six winners, produced by a winning daughter of Listed Derby du Languedoc third Symba's Dream (Vindication). Symba's Dream, in turn, is a half-sister to GI Apple Blossom and GI Go For Wand heroine Heritage Of Gold (Gold Legend). The winner's dam Shiba (Rail Link) is a half-sister to Listed Premio Mario Incisa della Rocchetta victrix La Gommeuse (Zamindar) and the stakes-placed duo Jufoon (Dubawi) and La Valkyrie (Elusive City). Sukanya is kin to a yearling colt by Territories.
Another big Saturday winner for the @ChannonRacing team!
Sukanya (16/1) takes out the Dubai Duty Free Stakes under @davidprobert9… pic.twitter.com/irq0W5WKb0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 18, 2026
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE STAKES (FRED DARLING STAKES)-G3, £95,000, Newbury, 4-18, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.82, gd.
1–SUKANYA (GB), 128, f, 3, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Shiba (Fr), by Rail Link (GB)
2nd Dam: Symba's Dream, by Vindication
3rd Dam: Lyphard Gal, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£55,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-Opulence Thoroughbreds & Partner III; B-Corps Commerce Ltd; T-Jack Channon; J-David Probert. £53,875. Lifetime Record: SP-Ire, 6-2-1-0, $109,690. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Touleen (GB), 128, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Talaayeb (GB), by Dansili (GB). TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; T-Owen Burrows. £20,425.
3–Domina Ignis (Fr), 128, f, 3, Pinatubo (Ire)–Your Ladyship (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€70,000 Wlg '23 ARQDEN; 50,000gns RNA Ylg '24 TATOCT; €300,000 2yo '25 ARQBRU). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-SAS Langlais Bloodstock & Mme Fabienne Fiquet; T-Kevin Philippart De Foy. £10,222.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 16.00, 1.25, 14.00.
Also Ran: Ellusive Butterfly (Ire), Zooming (GB), Silenciosa (Ire), Figjam (Ire), Spinning Lizzie (GB), Stimulative Trip (Fr), Blingy's Sister (Ire), K Sarra (GB), Catching The Moon (Ire), Princess Petrol (GB), Splish Splash (Ire). Scratched: Zaravina (GB).
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