S2-5

12. CANDLE OF DUBAI

Trainer: Charlie Johnston

CANDLE OF DUBAI made a promising start to her career when second in an all-weather novice at Chelmsford City over 2000m and filled the same position at Goodwood on her only other juvenile start.

She returned to action at Chelmsford City in June, racing prominently and taking up the running over 400m out and keeping on well to win the novice – again over 2000m.

She was stepped up to 2400m for her handicap debut at Newmarket later in June, again racing prominently, but appeared to find the trip too far as she weakened into fourth (of five) in the closing stages. Dropped back to 2000m in July, CANDLE OF DUBAI attempted to make the running but was pestered for the lead and dropped right out of contention, finishing tailed off.

The return to a track where she ran well as a juvenile is a positive as is her draw in barrier 3 with the expectation that Vincent Ho will be asked to ride her prominently while she may also find life easier in a race confined to fillies but there’s no doubt that she has something to prove after her two disappointing runs at Newmarket.

S2-7

12. SIR WINSTON

Trainer: George M Baker

SIR WINSTON won three times for trainer Roger Varian with all of those victories coming on the downhill tracks at Brighton and Epsom. He is without a win for George Baker but ran creditably in four starts in Bahrain and has shown some promise in three starts back in Britain.

The first of those came over this course and distance in June and was his first start since February so may have been needed. SIR WINSTON built on that to finish close-up in midfield at Epsom before running about as well as the market expected at Newmarket.

The return to racing on a downhill track may well suit while Baker has opted to try SIR WINSTON in headgear, fitting cheekpieces for the first time but a draw in 14 is not easy to overcome at this track over 1400m.

SIR WINSTON has often raced prominently but it could prove difficult for Vincent Ho to get across from his wide barrier and gain a good track position and they will need a lot to go right to be a factor in a competitive race.