Double delight for Burke and Channon at DDF Free Spring Trials

The continued appeal of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials weekend at Newbury Racecourse UK which began on Friday, was underlined by a significant increase in raceday crowds and large fields with more than 100 horses engaged across Saturday’s seven races alone.

The opening seven furlongs Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes worth GBP 95,000, the One Thousand Guineas Trial, attracted a larger than usual field of fifteen high class fillies and set the pattern for the day.

Sukanya trained by Jack Channon who took over from his father, the former England footballer Mick at West Ilsley Stables, came from last to first to overturn the favourite Touleen.

Sukanya is owned by Opulence Thoroughbreds who, contradicting their extravagant title, are small shareholders but love their racing and their delight was evident when jockey David Probert brought their colours into the winner’s enclosure.

“She’s entered in the Irish, French and German Guineas,” said Jack. “She’s tricky, she’s a madam but there’s no denying her class or willingness.”

The One Thousand Guineas Trial was followed by the equivalent race for the colts, the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes sharing Group 3 status. It provided the first leg of a memorable double for North Yorkshire trainer Karl Burke - not quite the longest traveller because Aidan O’Brien sent over his one-time Guineas favourite Albert Einstein from Ireland.

Though the Irish colt finished third Albert Einstein was comprehensively defeated by Burke’s Alparslan who has received first quotes of 20-1 for the Two Thousand Guineas. Burke suggested that Alparslan, winner of his first two races at two but then well down the field in the Group One Dewhurst, was probably unsuited by the undulations at Newmarket and hinted that the Irish Guineas may be the target. “He’ll turn up at one of them,” said Burke adding there was uncertainty too as to whether Alparslan would be suited by a mile. The colt has lots of speed on both sides of his pedigree.

“He finished well today, we’ll have to have ‘discussions with the owner Mr Al Shehhi,” said the trainer enjoying a great start to the season.

After the next race Karl Burke and his jockey Clifford Lee, who described Alparslan as “A pleasure to ride” were back in the winner’s enclosure. After a traffic accident last October Lee’s career in the saddle looked over. But he has come through his severe injuries to renew his burgeoning career.

The £ 95,000 Group Three Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes over a mile and a half for four-year-olds and upwards showed Lee at his best, having to manoeuvre his mount Convergent through several gaps and the four-year-old, carrying topweight with a penalty for a previous Group Two success, responded to his jockey’s urgings.

The world has opened up for Convergent and trainer Burke was able to muse on the prospect of the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom’s Derby meeting and then the all-aged mid-summer championship King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot.

“He has a good turn of foot,” said the ever-calm thoughtful Burke hiding his jubilation. “He’s been working well and though the 2021 winner Shadwell’s Al Aasy came at him, his turn of foot was vital.”

Burke, from his North Yorkshire base, was the meeting’s furthest British trainer-traveller.

The £20,000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile featured a huge field of twenty- five runners – and a considerable training feat by local trainer Archie Watson to bring Exclusive Code fit to do the business from a 247-day absence. Exclusive Code had finished just outside the places in two of the hottest maidens of last year as a juvenile and broke his maiden tag decisively under jockey James Doyle. The jockey was full of praise for the gelding. “He’s a natural miler,” said Doyle.

Archie Watson will look at race like the Britannia Handicap for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot: “He needs to step up if he’s to be considered a Stakes horse,” said the trainer. “He’s much stronger than last year though and this experience in such a large field will have taught him plenty.”

The hugely successful weekend in glorious Spring weather, in front of a large crowd culminated with the £20,000 Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap over ten furlongs. It was a truly competitive affair with fourteen runners and saw Jack Channon post a famous double.

Short priced favourite Valedictory, in his first handicap, ran on strongly for the Godolphin operation but couldn’t quite catch battle-hardened Rathgar.

The opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend commenced with the ten runners for the Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes for unraced two-year-olds over five furlongs and worth £12,500. The fancied horses had been showing early promise on the gallops and in their pedigrees but the eventual winner Blessed Voyager was trainer Ralph Beckett’s first juvenile winner of the season.

“He will want six furlongs,” said Beckett who would not be drawn on where he would go next with a penalty for this victory. Winning jockey Hector Crouch was more forthcoming, saying “It was just like a piece of work to him.”

The £32,500 Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises 7fur handicap for three-year-olds with fourteen runners due to the late absence of Godolphin’s unbeaten Fort Rock, still left a strong field. The Royal Ascot Racing Club have had their great days in the past, most notably when Motivator won them the Derby, the Blue Riband of the turf in 2005 and Stellar Sunrise, comfortable winner of this hot handicap is heading for the Royal Meeting after this smashing victory.

“He’s not short of speed,” said jockey James Doyle and it is possible that instead of the original target, the mile Britannia Handicap, Stellar Sunrise, who carried top weight to a clear cut win, will contest the seven furlong Listed Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting. Stellar Sunrise disappointed on his previous visit to Newbury in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes last autumn but the ground was desperately heavy that day.

Salim Dahman, Senior Manager – Marketing, represented the multi-award winning airport retailer at the event presenting specially commissioned trophies to the winning connections and hosting a lunch on the feature day of the meeting attended by guests form the British racing industry and media for the sports, horse racing and travel retail sectors.