George Boughey has identified the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night as the next port of call for Al Dasim (Ire), who will be putting his unbeaten record at Meydan on the line after making it three wins from as many outings at that track in a Group 3 contest on Super Saturday.
A tilt at Royal Ascot will also come under consideration for the Harry Angel (Ire) colt later this summer with Boughey reporting the 3-year-old to be thriving in the gulf at present.
The trainer said, “He's just gone from strength to strength out there really. He was quite a raw, immature horse when he left and they can kind of go one way or the other but he has just improved.
“I've never been so relaxed before a high grade race as I was the other day, just because he's so relaxed and he also stays very well for a sprinter, which is helpful at Meydan and will also be a huge asset for him when he gets back home.
“He's come out of the race in great shape. Ryan King, who is my head man out there to ride him, has done a great job with him. I actually haven't seen him since he ran as I was on the night flight out of there, but he's sent me pictures and videos and he looks better than he's ever looked really.”
Al Dasim holds an entry in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6 but Boughey admits the chances of him lining out in that race are “very unlikely”. Instead, the Newmarket handler is considering races at the royal meeting.
“He'd be very unlikely to run in the Guineas. He's had a busy enough winter and if he does go to the Al Quoz, he'll have a good break and probably go first up at Royal Ascot.”
Boughey added, “He could have a prep run, but he's going to have penalties now and rather than carrying a penalty in a trial it might be worth just going straight to the Royal meeting.
“He'll get an entry in the [G1] Commonwealth Cup and will probably get an entry in the [G1] King's Stand as well because it doesn't look a very good division this year and a stiff five or six furlongs at Ascot could be right up his street.”
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