The G2 Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Phi Advertising is the official feature on Friday's 'Sword Of Honour' raceday at Meydan, with last year's winner San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) featuring in a nine-strong field as he tries to emulate Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the only previous dual winner of the race in 2015 and 2016.
Successful in 2024 when trained by Doug Watson, the nine-year-old San Donato is now with Michael Costa and shaped with plenty of encouragement on his first start for the stable when filling the runner-up spot in the Listed Business Bay Challenge.
“We're really happy with him,” said Costa. “We ran him first up thinking he would be be too short [on fitness], but we wanted to give his coat a wriggle on. He has come on nicely and will keep getting better with the increase in distance. It looks a firmer race than last year, but the horse is a happy horse.”
Safety Check's trainer Charlie Appleby is responsible for both Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Noble Dynasty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as he seeks a record-extending seventh win in the race, while Lucia Botti saddles Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), last seen finishing third in the G2 Al Rashidiya.
“Royal Dubai looks fantastic after his impressive Group 2 performance,” said Botti. “It's a short break between two very competitive races, but he's honest and ready for the challenge.”
Tuz Primed for Dubawi Defence
The other Group race on the card is the G3 Dubawi Stakes Sponsored by Binghatti Developers in which Tuz (Oxbow) is another returning champion. His trainer Bhupat Seemar is seeking a third consecutive win in the race, having also struck with Switzerland (Speightstown) in 2023.
Tuz returned from over eight months on the sidelines with an emphatic victory in the Listed Garhoud Sprint, beating the reopposing Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by five and three-quarter lengths.
“Tuz is one of the fastest horses in the world and is in good form,” Seemar said of last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner. “He's his usual self so all is good with him.”
Tuz's rivals include Desperate Hero (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}), who makes his dirt debut for Salem Bin Ghadayer, having won six of his 24 starts when trained in Britain by Jack Channon.
“Desperate Hero has had just one gallop since he came,” said Bin Ghadayer. “He performed well on soft and firm ground in Europe and I'm really happy about him. He's a nice horse and he could develop to become one of the good sprinters here.
“This weekend's race is just a starting point for him, as it's a tough field with a super champion [Tuz] in there. But he will be a very nice horse, especially over five furlongs.”
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