First Conquest aiming to maintain G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes dominance

Impressive recent course winner First Conquest looks to maintain Godolphin’s near-perfect record in the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan, UAE, on Friday, 31 January. 

The royal blue silks have been carried to victory in all but one of the 11 runnings of the race, with G1 winners Hunter's Light, Tryster, Ghaiyyath and Nations Pride featuring on the roll of honour. 

First Conquest seeks a third straight win as he steps up to a mile and a quarter, with the Teofilo four-year-old having posted a neck verdict in a mile handicap at Newmarket in July and taken the Lord North Handicap by nearly four lengths earlier this month. 

Charlie Appleby said: “First Conquest won impressively on his first start in Dubai and has come forward for the run. He is stepping into Pattern company and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the rise in class. We are dipping our toe at this level to see where his future lies and will hopefully be a lot wiser afterwards.” 

Romantic Style makes a quick return to action for the same trainer in the Listed Dubai Sprint, with last season’s G3 Prix Imprudence scorer having filled the runner-up spot in the G2 Cape Verdi two weeks ago. 

Charlie Appleby said: “The Cape Verdi was a messy race, and a mile has always been a slight question mark for Romantic Style in terms of whether she truly sees the trip out. She has strengthened over the winter and dropping back to sprinting could be her gig, looking at her pedigree. She goes into this in great shape, and it will open a few doors if she handles the drop in distance.” 

Friday’s action also features two prep races for the Jumeirah 1,000 Guineas and Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas on Super Saturday. 

Mountain Breeze, a G2 runner-up for Charlie Appleby last season, makes her first start since finishing eighth in Canada’s G1 Natalma Stakes in the Mawj Stakes for three-year-old fillies. 

Al Qudra was runner-up in the G1 Summer Stakes on the same Woodbine card and the Ascot Listed scorer heads four contenders in the Jumeirah Guineas Trial. 

He is joined by stable-mate Hallasan, who stayed on strongly to take second behind Age Of Gold in the Jumeirah Stakes at the start of the year. 

Castle Gates returns to turf after finishing down the field in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial, with his trainer Saeed bin Suroor also responsible for Jumeirah Stakes fifth Desert Shadow.