Seasoned globetrotter Dubai Honour needs to eclipse Australia’s leading mares to repeat in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as trainer William Haggas pulls out a time-honoured tactic to sharpen him up.
Following the same playbook as with Addeybb going into the 2021 edition of the elite weight-for-age race, Haggas has equipped Dubai Honour with blinkers for the edge required.
“The boss has talked about doing it before and I’ve always felt the horse doesn’t need them because he tries really hard,” Haggas’ travelling foreperson, Isabella Paul said.
“But it’s one of those things. He’s older, he stays, and we need him to be sharp throughout.
“It worked with Addeybb when we did it for his second Queen Elizabeth and we’re hoping it works with him.”
Last time, Dubai Honour battled valiantly by taking an atypical pacemaker’s role in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), drawing clear entering the straight before Aeliana wore him down late, and she’ll join Autumn Glow as major dangers at Randwick on Saturday.
Tough as they are, the eight-year-old’s credentials include scalping Anamoe in the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) triumph and a gritty second to Via Sistina 12 months ago.
“They’re two phenomenal fillies, but we can’t swerve these races because of what’s running,” Paul said.
“We’ve flown halfway across the world.
“It makes it exciting. We bumped into Via Sistina last year and Anamoe three years ago, so hopefully we can go out in front.”
In addition, Paul will ride Caviar Heights for Haggas in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), following the gelding’s near-miss second in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at the Tancred meeting.
Though a big step up is needed, Paul eyes a better getaway to keep him in contention up front.
“He tends to run from the front, but he broke a little bit slow and got shuffled back, which wasn’t ideal,” she said of his last start.
“I’m not sure he could have beaten the winner, but it was probably his undoing.”
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