Dubai: Doncaster and Moonee Valley racecourses host some hot Group One action on Saturday, with the former — one of the time-honoured centres for horse racing in Britain — staging the Racing Post Trophy, while its Australian equivalent rolls out the Cox Plate.
Dubai-owned horses are represented in both events, with Snoano, a promising colt by Nayef, bidding to give Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, a second success in the 1,600m contest after Al Hareb in 1988.
Shaikh Hamdan’s retained jockey Paul Hanagan partners Snoano, who is seeking a hat-trick following recent wins at Sandown and Newbury.
The market is headed by the Andrew Balding-trained Elm Park, who is unbeaten in three starts including the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last month, and the Irish-trained Jacobean.
Meanwhile, Sweynesse bids to secure a first major trophy for Godolphin’s Australian handler John O’Shea in the prestigious Cox Plate, Australia’s weight-for-age championship.
The Darley-bred colt, who faces 13 rivals in the 2,000m contest, is held in high regard by both O’Shea and jockey Chad Schofield
“I think he handles the track well enough ... I think he handles all tracks,” he said. “We learnt the other day that he’s a one-dimensional horse and you’ve got to ride him like he wants to be ridden. It’s a big reward to actually make a Cox Plate and I’m sure he’ll run well.”
Schofield, who is looking for back-to-back victories in the Cox Plate following Shamus Award 12 months ago, said: “He’s got a great attitude and he’s got everything to suggest he can handle a weight-for-age race like a Cox Plate.”
The Cox Plate carries Australia’s richest weight-for-age prize of A$3 million (Dh9.6 million).
Shaikh Hamdan won the race in 1989 with Almaarad, who won a number of stakes races both in Europe and Australia.
