Dubai Future downs Sweet William for Henry II success

Dubai Future served a reminder he is not short of class on his day with a 28-1 surprise in the Star Sports Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

The Group Three affair looked to revolve around 8-13 favourite Sweet William, as the Sagaro Stakes scorer sought to reclaim top spot in a race which he won two years ago.

Furthur took them along over the two miles, closely attended by Lazy Griff on his first start since finishing third in last year’s Irish Derby, having been runner-up to Lambourn at Epsom.

Keeping tabs was David Probert on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained runner, who would make an eyecatching move that saw him lead into the home straight, from where he really kicked inside the two-furlong marker to go clear.

Sweet William was bustled along to give chase, but the bird had flown, even though the ultimate margin was just a neck, while Lazy Griff came home with plenty of enthusiasm in third to suggest he too has good things ahead of him.

Bin Suroor said of his winner, who landed the Dubai Gold Cup last year and was third in the Gold Cup at Ascot: “He’s a tough horse who always tries hard as we’ve seen in the past. He ran well at Ascot in the Gold Cup last year and improved as the season went on.

“Tonight I talked to David and said to him this is a two-mile race and keep him nice and sweet and happy in the race, especially with the cheekpieces on to make him focus.

“The horse is doing well and the plan now is to go back to Royal Ascot for the Gold Cup. When you have the right horses who try hard and work well in the morning then you always have the chance to run in the big races.”

A place in front of Dubai Future at Ascot was John and Thady Gosden’s Sweet William, who will return for a third crack at the showpiece event, having narrowly failed to build on his winning return.

Gosden senior: “He ran a super race giving 5lb and they didn’t go any pace. He picked up well and just ran out of racetrack, another half a stride and he wins.

“I’m happy for my old friend Saeed bin Suroor with his old veteran there and for our lad, as a trial for the Gold Cup it was perfect.

“Robert (Havlin) was hands and heels with him and we didn’t want him knocked about today and he’s run a lovely race. The Gold Cup in three weeks is what we’re all aiming for.

“I’m delighted with his run there and his next run will be over two and a half miles when this was two miles and he just needed another half stride.”

It is still to be determined if Sweet William will be joined in the Gold Cup by stablemate and defending champion Trawlerman, who in fact claimed this contest 12 months ago but has yet to be seen this term.

Gosden added: “We are seeing if we can get Trawlerman there and he’s going around in shades right now and doing great. We’ll see in his work what he can do.

“I don’t want to put a percentage on it, but when I get within two weeks of the race I will know more then.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Johnston was left to ponder if last year’s Derby runner-up Lazy Griff has earned his ticket to the Gold Cup.

Johnston said: “I’m left a bit frustrated by it in a way and I was watching them going down the back straight thinking someone is eventually going to do what David eventually did.

“The best horse hasn’t won the race, but the best ride has and I think that is pretty obvious for everyone to see.

“He spent two furlongs up the straight in a race that was very slowly run quickening and trying to find room and it was all a bit messy, but if he’s OK in the morning then it’s a good run after so long off.

“Does it give me clarity on where I’m going in the short to medium term? I’m not sure it does. That wasn’t exactly a proper test at two miles so two and a half would be a real leap into the unknown.

“The Irish St Leger would be an obvious long-term target and you could be thinking Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix Royal-Oak as three nice targets to have, but then there is also only one Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and I was hoping to leave here with some clarity about where we would be going, but I’m not sure I have that.”