When Dubai Honour displays some mischief during training sessions, it usually leads to a top performance on race day, and Isabella Paul is observing all the positive indicators before the British challenger’s Tancred Stakes engagement.
This season represents the eight-year-old’s third autumn campaign in Sydney, and Paul, who accompanies the William Haggas-prepared Dubai Honour on each visit, is pleased to note the horse remains at his peak.
His latest performances confirm this, including a Group 1 third behind Goliath in Germany last September, a Listed success in England two months afterward, and a runner-up effort in Britain most recently in December carrying 64kg.
“I’m really happy with where he is. He is being a bit of a pain on the track, and that generally means he is in pretty good order,” Paul said.
“He’s in great form. He actually came down here a little bit heavy, and he has tightened up nicely in the last week or so.
“They did a good bit of work last week, and they will have a little stretch tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Dubai Honour along with stablemate Caviar Heights both worked at Canterbury on Tuesday morning, finalising their mandatory quarantine requirements.
Dubai Honour aims for consecutive victories in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) this Saturday, having beaten Duke De Sessa and Vauban in the same event a year earlier, as Caviar Heights debuts in Australia in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).
Paul verified that rider Tom Marquand, who has ridden Dubai Honour in three of his four Australian outings, arrives in Sydney on Thursday yet won’t trial either Haggas runner prior to the races.
“Probably not, to be honest,” Paul said.
“He came and had a sit on Caviar Heights when we were in quarantine in the UK. They galloped together, and he rode Caviar and was very happy with him that day.
“Obviously, he knows Dubai Honour inside out, so we will leave Tom to recover from his flight, and we’ll see him on Saturday.”
Dubai Honour boasts an excellent Sydney record, with his sole loss in four appearances to Via Sistina in last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Assuming all goes smoothly, he targets The Championships feature post-Rosehill, while Caviar Heights should also advance to the Queen Elizabeth, though entered for the Sydney Cup (3200m).
Aeliana is entered for the Tancred Stakes, with trainer Chris Waller set to determine later Tuesday if she follows up her Ranvet Stakes (2000m) victory at Rosehill over the weekend.
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