Appleby pins hopes on Al Suhail for Dubai Turf

Charlie Appleby has strong chances to win in the UAE Derby (G2) with UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) winner Rebel’s Romance, Dubai Gold Cup (G2) with Secret Advisor and Dubai Turf (G1) with Al Suhail.

Al Suhail made a very satisfactory seasonal debut to finish a close third in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, the trial for the Dubai Turf.

Appleby said: “We’re very pleased with his first start after returning from a layoff. He has shown the right signs that he has come forward for the run and hopefully will be competitive for us on the night.

“It’s going to be an exciting night’s racing,” Appleby said.

“Secret Advisor is in good order. If he reproduces that run from Saudi, he’s going to be very competitive and he is a potential international favourite for the Gold Cup at the moment. Another live contender, there.” Al Suhail has long been considered a break-out star waiting to happen, but failed to shine when bested by Group 1 warrior Lord Glitters in Super Saturday’s Jebel Hatta (G1) last out. Hope remains, especially in the market, as the G3-placed Listed winner is currently third choice behind Lord North and Lord Glitters.

“He’s definitely come forward for the run,” Appleby explained. “I was delighted with that. It was very much a prep run into the Dubai Turf. People question mark the nine over the eight furlongs, but all it was is that he got tired there and the petrol ran out in the last 100 yards. He went there to go and win his race and just got tired.

“He’s visually come out of it well and any bit of improvement is going to make him very competitive in what looks a good race with Lord North and Lord Glitters.”

Secret Advisor returns to a turf course he relishes and is fresh off a strong third in The Saudi Cup’s $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000m.

Two-for-two at Meydan, he won the Meydan Cup (Listed) and Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3) over 2800m. The Dubai Gold Cup is over 3200m (two miles) and appears within his wheelhouse.

A trio of Saeed Bin Suroor runners also go in the Duba Gold Cup. Global Heat (Frankie Dettori) and Volcanic Sky (Christophe Soumillon) were separated by a short-head when fighting out the finish to the 14-furlong G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, while G1 winner Royal Marine (Oisin Murphy) steps up to two miles for the first time.

Appleby said: “Secret Advisor produced a solid effort in Saudi Arabia on his first start of the year and has won both his previous races at Meydan. We feel that he goes into this as a live player off level weights.”

Suroor said: “All three of my horses are doing very well and are in good form. Global Heat and Volcanic Sky looked strong stayers in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy and this trip will suit them both. Royal Marine has never run this far but needs to settle to give him the best chance. His work is always excellent but I want to see him do the same on the track.”

Three-year-olds Rebels Romance (William Buick) and Soft Whisper (Pat Cosgrave) re-oppose in the extended nine-furlong G2 UAE Derby after finishing fourth and fifth in the Saudi Derby in February.

Both horses had previously scored at Meydan, with Rebel’s Romance taking the UAE 2,000 Guineas trial for Charlie Appleby and Soft Whisper storming to victory for Saeed bin Suroor in the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas.

Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance was beaten for the first time in the Saudi Derby but gained valuable experience that day. He received plenty of kickback before rallying and really stuck at it. We are pitched out wide in stall 11 but I am not overly concerned because he doesn’t have that natural gate-speed that he would need if he were drawn towards the inside. He is a good, solid horse and we are hopeful that the extra distance is going to see further improvement.”

Suroor said: “Soft Whisper is a top filly, who came back from Saudi Arabia in good shape. She looks in great condition and handles the dirt at Meydan really well. We are taking on the colts again but she is tough and, from the way she has been going in the mornings, I think that she has a big chance.”