NEWMARKET // Owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah could be sitting on a pair of Classic aces after Daban set up a possible tilt at the English 1,000 Guineas next month when she led home a UAE-owned one-two in the Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday.
Daban came with an overwhelming run under Frankie Dettori out of the famous Newmarket Dip to nail Dr Ali Ridha’s Unforgetable Filly to win the Group 3 contest over 1,400 metres.
The daughter of sprinter Acclamation may now step up by 200 metres to contest either the fillies Classic back here on May 7 or the French equivalent at Deauville a week later.
Much hinges on how Dabyah, who is also trained by Gosden and owned by Al Naboodah, fares at Newbury on Saturday. The trainer revealed Dabyah breezed beautifully on Wednesday morning in preparation for her assignment, and he was delighted by the inexperienced winner.
“She does have that cruising speed and ability to quicken which is what a good thoroughbred has,” Al Naboodah said. “She is in the Classic here and in France so we will talk to the owner about which way he wants to play it.”
Earlier in the day, Pat Dobbs orchestrated the downfall of Godolphin’s Folkswood when he guided Steel Of Madrid to victory in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes.
It was a second victory in Britain this season from just nine rides for Dobbs since he returned from his fine season in the UAE to ride for Richard Hannon.
Steel Of Madrid had been running over 2,400 metres last season, but was good enough to run Europe’s star colt Almanzor to within four and a half lengths over 2000 metres in France.
Dropped back another 200 metres, he battled past Folkswood, who was edged out of the Jebel Hatta at Meydan last month, and held off Charlie Appleby’s representative by half a length.
“We tried him over a mile and a half a few times last year,” Dobbs said. “He travelled well in his races but it looked like he didn’t get home. It was a good idea by the boss to drop him back in trip.
“He’s matured a lot over the winter and strengthened up.”
Saeed bin Suroor will bid to make it a Craven meeting to remember for the UAE on Thursday when he saddles Benbatl in the feature Craven Stakes.
Benbatl won a maiden at Doncaster racecourse 18 days ago and will be ridden by former Godolphin rider Silvestre de Sousa.
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