Racing:Dubai Prince handsomely extended his unbeaten record in the Group Three JRA Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld's juvenile made a striking debut at Gowran last month when proving a length too sharp for Seville, who finished second in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
The Shamardal colt, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, again excelled with a pretty ruthless display under Pat Smullen. Third in the early exchanges behind stablemate Catalpa Sail and Ballydoyle’s Petronius Maximus, Smullen saw little cause to delay the inevitable and pressed the button a furlong and a half from home.
The 4-9 favourite was then hardly pressurised in defeating Warning Flag by three and a half lengths.
Smullen said: “He won a very hot maiden, which run like a very good race, and he could be high class. The trip (seven furlongs) was not ideal as he’s more a middle-distance horse for next season, but good horses can cope with anything.
“I think he will go a mile and a half next year. The good mile-and-a-half horses have to have pace, and he’s certainly got that.”
Weld added: “He is a very high-class performer — he is a joy to train. Seven furlongs is really too short for him. He will make a very exciting horse next year.
“He is in a Group One at Saint-Cloud (Criterium de Saint-Cloud) in three weeks’ time so I’ll have a chat with John Ferguson (bloodstock advisor) and Sheikh Mohammed to see if he goes for that.
“He will go on any ground. He will run exceptionally well over one mile next year, but his real potential will come over longer distances. He is by an outstanding stallion and his dam won over one mile, five furlongs.”