The Juddmonte side may be a rare sight during the winter months, but Jonquil could be one to wear the colors of the Abdullah family when he takes to the Dubai Turf on World Cup night in the spring.
The nine-furlong match was won three times in a row by Lord North between 2021 and 2023 and has been a happy hunting ground for British raiders, with Cityscape winning ahead of Roger Charlton and Juddmonte in 2012.
It could now be the ideal place for Jonquil to look for first success at top level after two trips to America at the end of a season that saw Andrew Balding’s leadership come close to claiming Classic honors in France and Group Two success at Goodwood.
“We will be quite quiet (during the winter), but we could watch Dubai Turf with Jonquil on World Cup night, if all goes well, and stablemate Tarriance could go to Saudi Arabia for the Red Sea Handicap.
“Jonquil came back from America fine and I don’t think the draw helped him in the end and two trips to America within a month was far from ideal.
“It was a bit of a toss-up at the end of the season and Colin (Keane, jockey) felt like he was a bit flat there – whether that was just the effects of a long season or the two trips there and back, I’m not sure.
“But we will now give him a nice break and freshen him up and see if he is ready in time for that race in Dubai in the spring.”
#Dubai #Turf #offers #opportunity #Jonquil #Races