Royal Ascot winner Sangarius is aiming to put it up to Dubai Warrior in an excellent edition of the 10-furlong Listed Betway Quebec Stakes (2.00pm, eight runners) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, December 19.
Dubai Warrior (John Gosden/Robert Havlin) is unbeaten over the course and distance, with success in this race last year followed by dominant displays in the G3 Betway Winter Derby in February and the Listed Betway Churchill Stakes on November 14. Betway make him the 11/10 favourite.
Sangarius (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore), meanwhile, has been restricted to just one start since powering to an impressive victory in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes over this distance at Royal Ascot in 2019.
That came earlier this year in the G3 Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Haydock Park in June, when the four-year-old finished fourth behind subsequent G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Lord North, after which he underwent wind surgery.
Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Lord Grimthorpe said today: “Sangarius had a hold up after Haydock, but he has come back well and his work over the last five or six weeks has been pleasing. He goes there in good shape.
“It is important to get him back on the racecourse as he has only had one race since winning at Royal Ascot in 2019. At the age he is now, we have to get going with him when we can. Then hopefully if all goes well, we will be able to make more a plan.
“He has always shown plenty of promise and the team still retains the faith, as they say!”
Andrew Balding saddles Listed Betway Winter Derby Trial scorer Bangkok (David Probert) and Johnny Drama (Danny Tudhope), who is the winning most horse of this season’s championships with four wins, most recently landing the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton Park on December 2. Both horses are owned by King Power Racing.
Almodovar (Ed Walker/Tom Marquand) ran an encouraging race to be fifth on his return in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park on November 18, his first start since chasing home Recoletos in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May 2018.
Godolphin runner King’s Command (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle), a G3 scorer in France last season, steps up in trip after finishing fourth in a mile Listed race at Newmarket in October.
A strong line up is completed by Palavecino (Brian Meehan/Martin Dwyer), third in the Betway Churchill Stakes last time out, and recent course and distance winner Wait For The Lord (David Elsworth/Dougie Costello).
Betway PR manager Chad Yeomans said: “What a mouth-watering race we have in store! It will be one of the hottest Listed races we will see for a long time – it looks like more of a Group 2!
“Last year’s winner Dubai Warrior looked as good as ever in the Betway Churchill Stakes last month and is a worthy favourite at 11/10. Add the one-time 2000 Guineas favourite Sangarius, plus the two horses hailing from Betway ambassador Andrew Balding’s yard, including the 2020 Betway Winter Derby Trial winner Bangkok, it is the most competitive renewal for some years.”
Betway Quebec Stakes - Betway prices:
11/10 Dubai Warrior
3/1 Bangkok
4/1 Sangarius
8/1 Johnny Drama
14/1 Wait For The Lord
16/1 Almodovar
16/1 King’s Command
20/1 Palavecino
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