Rare European outing for Star Safari in Princess Of Wales’ Stakes
LONDON: Star Safari looks to back up some smart Dubai form when he makes his first European appearance for nearly two years in the 12-furlong G2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes on day one of Newmarket’s July Festival, Thursday.
The five-year-old has raced exclusively at Meydan since finishing sixth in a Deauville Listed race in August, 2019, and performed with credit on his latest start when coming home sixth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night.
Star Safari (James Doyle) comfortably won the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes in February, one of three Meydan victories for the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Sea The Stars.
Charlie Appleby said: “Star Safari put up some progressive performances out in Dubai earlier in the year, winning the Dubai Millennium Stakes and running well in the Dubai Sheema Classic. We felt that this was a nice starting point for him ahead of some potential targets in Europe.” Charlie Appleby and James Doyle also team up on the card with two three-year-olds including Yibir, who steps up to a mile and five furlongs for the G3 Bahrain Trophy.
The son of Dubawi has produced some excellent effortsthisseason,includingwhentakingthirdbehind Alenquer and subsequent G1 Derby hero Adayar in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown Park in April.
Yibir’s second in a Goodwood Listed race in May has also received a significant boost, with winner Lone Eagle going on to finish a neck second to Hurricane Lane in the G1 Irish Derby.
Charlie Appleby said: “Yibir has some great form in the book this season but has been a bit frustrating, which is why he has been gelded since his last run. If he can return to the level of form he showed at Sandown, it is going to make him very competitive.”
One Ruler drops back to a mile for the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes having excelled over the trip at the end of last season, winning the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes and chasing home Mac Swiney in the G1 Futurity Trophy.
Ater finishing sixth in both the G1 2,000 Guineas and the G1 Derby, the Dubawi colt came home seventh in the 10-furlong G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
Charlie Appleby added: “One Ruler has been slightly frustrating so far this year but dropping back to a mile should suit. He will be a major player if he can rediscover his two-year-old form.”
Meanwhile, Group 3 Indiana Derby winner (Brad Cox/florent Geroux) heads back to Indiana Grand, US, for his four-year-old return in the extended-mile Michael G Schaefer Memorial Stakes on Wednesday.
Earlier, Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline winner Mystic Guide produced a highly commendable effort on his US return over the weekend as he was narrowly beaten in the G2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Godolphin flagbearer went down by a neck to Max Player, who was receiving 4lbs, on his first appearance since his famous victory at Meydan in March. Racing down the inside rail on a sloppy track also counted against Mystic Guide, who nevertheless fought bravely all the way to the line.