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Marnane hoping for better from Bay

Settle For BaySettle For Bay
© Photo Healy Racing

David Marnane is hoping Settle For Bay can redeem himself when he returns to the fray in the Azizi Mina Handicap at Meydan on Thursday, following his disappointing effort two weeks ago.

The Tipperary trainer believes it is best to forgive that run behind Dream Castle in the Group Three Singspiel Stakes, in which he was sent off the 100-30 second favourite.

That was Settle For Bay’s first racecourse since he lifted the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in June — and the five-year-old steps back to that trip of a mile, having tried an extra furlong last time.

“He was a bit fresh, as he was entitled to be on his first run for a long time, and he was trapped wide,” said Marnane.

“We worked him on Saturday morning, and he worked really well. We were delighted with him, and I’m pleased he’s secured a good draw in three.

“I’m looking forward to getting him back and seeing how he gets on.

“We found nothing after the race to warrant not running, so we just have to draw a line through it and hope that he was just a bit fresh. Things didn’t go right.”

Opposition includes Charlie Appleby’s Key Victory, who also disappointed in the Singspiel, three horses trained by Saeed bin Suroor — Bedouin’s Story, Desert Fire and Race Day — and Mike de Kock’s pair of Suyoof and Fire Away.

The feature race on the card is the Group Two Cape Verdi, which Godolphin have won six times in the last eight years.

They are represented by Charlie Appleby’s Poetic Charm and the bin Suroor-trained duo of Asoof and Victory Wave.

“Poetic Charm showed a good level of form out in France last season — but things didn’t go right for her in Keeneland, where she was drawn very wide,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“She has done well out in Dubai and will be a major player if she brings her French form to the table.”

Asoof and Victory Wave are both stepping out of handicap company for the first time, while the latter has had the benefit of a run at Meydan earlier this month.

“Victory Wave has come on for her first run of the year and has been working well,” said bin Suroor.

“This is a step up, and she is coming up against some nice fillies, but I am looking for a good run.

“Asoof has done very well since coming out to Dubai. She is a small filly, but has been working really nicely.”

Charlie Fellowes is expecting a good run from Mia Tesoro, a regular in Pattern company for the past 15 months and successful in the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks in June.

“She travelled over great, he’s in great form, she’ll love the track,” said the Newmarket trainer.

“Eight furlongs is just on the sharp side for her, but she’s not short of speed.

“You can put a line through her last run at Newmarket — that wasn’t her. She was too fresh and didn’t get home over 12 furlongs. One thing she has got massively in her favour is that she’s tough.”