Royal Dubai aiming to continue good start for Burrows at Haydock

North Wales Chronicle

08-08-2025

The five-year-old son of Seahenge joined Burrows from Marco Botti in June and quickly became popular with his new trainer, landing the Steventon Stakes at Newbury less than a month later.
After defeating Rashabar by a length in that Listed contest in Berkshire, Burrows is keen to continue that momentum as Royal Dubai targets a maiden Pattern success at Haydock on Saturday.
'He's come out of Newbury very well and I'm very pleased with him so it looks a nice, logical next step,' he said.
'I think we only had him about a month or so before, so he settled in like an old pro and it was a very pleasing start.
'We've got to go up in grade and I feel it's a very trappy, very tight race on Saturday, so let's see what happens.
'We obviously stepped him up in trip, it looked to suit at Newbury so hopefully he can keep progressing.'
Haatem returns to 10 furlongs having dropped down to a mile last time out after winning the Wolferton Stakes for Richard Hannon.
'I think 10 furlongs is his best trip now and obviously he won the Wolferton Stakes well at Royal Ascot,'said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.
'I think going back up to that distance is going to put everything in his favour and hopefully he can run a big race.'
Charlie Appleby is doubly represented, through Military Order – who is a full-brother to Derby and King George hero Adayar – and First Conquest.
'Military Order ran a very creditable race at Royal Ascot (sixth in the Wolferton) and likes the combination of quick ground over a mile and a quarter,' the Moulton Paddocks handler told the Godolphin website.
'This will hopefully tell is whether he is a horse for something like the Bahrain International Trophy later in the year.
'First Conquest goes into this in great order and stepping back up to a mile and a quarter will hopefully suit. If he runs to the level of his Dubai form earlier in the year, he should be very competitive.'
Wathnan have another dart in the extended mile-and-a-quarter race with Hamad Al Jehani's Haunted Dream, while Certain Lad runs for Jack Channon.
The green and pink silks of Juddmonte have market leader Detain, trained by John and Thady Gosden, and Harry Charlton's Okeechobee to complete the eight-runner field.