YORK, ENGLAND // Both Quest For More and Barsanti could be heading for Dubai in the winter after winning on the undercard here on the Knavesmire on Friday.
Quest For More was given a peach of a ride by George Baker to win the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup, staged over an extended 3,200 metres, while Barsanti ran in the hoofprints of stablemate Postponed, who won the International Stakes on Wednesday, by taking the 2,400-metre handicap for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.
Quest For More led almost from as soon as the gates opened until the six-year-old had galloped three and a half lengths clear of Qatar Racing’s Pallasator at the line.
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Trainer Roger Charlton, who last had a runner at Meydan when Cityscape won the 2012 Dubai Turf, said afterwards he was eyeing the $US1 million (Dh3.6m) Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night in March.
Quest For More was ninth in the Melbourne Cup last season, but a return to Flemington racecourse looks unlikely.
“I like to see the horses and be with them a lot and that’s very difficult when they’re on the other side of the world,” he said.
“He’s a fragile horse and needs looking after and I think I’d rather look after him here in England.
“The ground dictates where he goes. Maybe the stayers’ race in Dubai might be nice for him.”
Barsanti needs to improve on the neck defeat of Shakopee to participate on the richest night in racing, but trainer Roger Varian believes the son of Champ Elyssees is the type who could graduate through the Carnival.
“He doesn’t need too much more racing this year as he’s had some tough races,” Varian said. “He’s got stakes-race potential and, in time, international races could appeal.”
Later in the day, Mecca’s Angel became the first female horse to win the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes twice in succession when she bounded clear of July Cup winner Limato under Paul Mulrennan.
Trainer Michael Dods is pointing her towards the Prix l’Abbaye de Longchamp at Chantilly on the first Sunday in October and the Champions Sprint at Ascot two weeks later.
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