By Craig Kerry
Issy Paul does not doubt that globe-trotting star Dubai Honour is ready to run a big race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Paul, the travelling assistant to English trainer William Haggas, is hoping for a change of pace at the Sydney autumn carnival to give the seven-year-old a shot at a second win in the classic.
Issy Paul aboard Dubai Honour during trackwork at Canterbury on Wednesday.Credit: Janie Barrett
The 2023 Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner looks the main danger to superstar mare Via Sistina ($1.80) and was the only other horse in single figures with Sportsbet, at $6, for the $5 million headline event of The Championships at Randwick.
Already facing the “tricky” task of dropping back to 2000m after his 2400m Tancred Stakes win at Rosehill on April 1, Dubai Honour has drawn 13, with Via Sistina in one.
Asked what Dubai Honour needed to overcome the seven-time group 1 winner in Australia, Paul said: “A decent pace would help.
“If they cool and spread, we are in a bit of trouble. If they go a good gallop, we know he’s got that staying ability.
Tom Marquand rides Dubai Honour to victory in the Tancred Stakes.Credit: Sam Mooy
“Over a mile and a half, they can cool and spread because he’s got that 2000m turn of foot, but we’d like see some decent pace in the race.
“Through this carnival, that hasn’t necessarily happened. The Doncaster was run really slow, and that was another race we were hoping for some pace in. He’s pretty versatile, but we’re not going to be going forward from that barrier.
“He’s been running well over a mile and a half for the last year, then to bring him back down to 2000 for this is no mean feat, but he’s in really, really good form. He was pretty fresh going into Tuesday and he’s come bouncing out of the race, which will hopefully leave us in the best possible position.
“He’s a group 1 performer at 2000m, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t still perform at the top level.”
Win, lose or draw, Dubai Honour will remain a favourite of Paul, who has been with him for his overseas campaigns, including two trips to Australia that are yet to include a defeat.
“He’s just the best, he’s the coolest character, he’s so easy to deal with,” she said.
“Seven years old, he’s run a big race last week, and we trotted him up the next morning for the press, and he was squirming around, he wouldn’t stand still.
“He just loves it, and he loves training out on the track, he’s got his ears pricked every morning. He just loves the game. It’s so nice to have a horse like that.”
