Kallos crosses the Rubiton in front to set up Oakleigh Plate bid

Talented sprinter Kallos registered a second G2 victory and teed himself up for a return to G1 company with an impressive comeback in the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The 2021 G2 Danehill Stakes winner unleashed a potent turn of foot inside the final furlong for a cosy length verdict over Asfoora, with Zapateo running well to finish a head further back in third.

Kallos now looks set to run over the same course and distance in the G1 Oakleigh Plate later this month and he may yet be joined by Zapateo, although her principal target is the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes against her own sex in May.

Cylinder also has the option of the Oakleigh Plate but could have a more-immediate G1 sprint in his sights in this Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. The Exceed And Excel colt made an exciting start to his three-year-old season, winning the G3 Vain Stakes and G2 Run To The Rose in addition to admirable efforts in the G1 Golden Rose and The Everest.

Godolphin’s superb recent run on Meydan’s turf course continued with another double on Friday. Great Truth posted a brave win in the Dubai Trophy, while Ruling Dynasty wore down a front-running Al Nafir in the Vazirabad Handicap. All three now look set to travel back to Newmarket to continue their campaigns in Europe.

This week’s Dubai Racing Carnival fixture is a relatively low-key affair as Qatar provides the main action on the Arabian peninsula. Godolphin horses will be out in force on Saturday’s card at Al Rayyan, with Breeders’ Cup winners Rebel’s Romance and Mischief Magic heading a four-strong contingent for the country’s feature meeting of the calendar.

In the United States, improving filly Tarifa will be hoping to further her Kentucky Oaks ambitions when she lines up in the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Pretty Mischievous won the same race 12 months ago before going on to capture the Churchill Downs Classic.