By Emma Berry
Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), the winner of last year's G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in Sydney, will not be returning to Australia for this year's Championships after meeting with a setback.
The six-year-old, who is trained in Newmarket by William Haggas for owner Mohamed Obaida, had been set to defend his crown this spring but will be prepared instead for Hong Kong's G1 QEII Cup, in which he finished third last year.
“We are disappointed to announce that Dubai Honour has had a setback and is unable to travel to Australia for the upcoming Carnival in Sydney,” said Haggas on Friday morning. “It is particularly frustrating as we felt he was in the form of his life. We hope to be able to prepare him for another tilt at the QEII in Hong Kong on 28 April with a run beforehand, more than likely in Magnolia Stakes at Kempton on 1 April.”
In recent years the Haggas stable has reaped rich rewards in targeting the Sydney programme during the Australian autumn.
Along with the dual Group 1 strike for Dubai Honour last year, Protagonist (Fr) won the G3 Sky High S. In 2020, Addeybb (Ire) completed that same Group 1 double as Dubai Honour and returned the following year to go close to repeating that feat, beating Verry Elleegant (NZ) to win the Queen Elizabeth II S. after finishing second to that top mare in the Ranvet. Haggas also landed the G3 NE Manion Cup in 2020 and 2021 with Young Rascal (Fr) and Favorite Moon (Ger).
This year the trainer will be represented by two runners in Sydney, with Shadwell's G2 Huxley S. runner-up Mujtaba (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) set to travel to Australia along with the Old Borough Cup winner Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
The trainer added, “We will be represented by Mujtaba who will be aimed at the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, although he does have the option of the Tancred Stakes. He is training well and due to enter quarantine today along with Post Impressionist, a useful stayer who will be aimed at the Manion Cup and the Sydney Cup. Once again Isabella Paul will be in charge.”
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