Fahey Seeking A Third Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Success With Powerful Glory

Nine years after he last tasted success in the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, Richard Fahey has the exciting unexposed two-year-old Powerful Glory declared for Saturday’s renewal of the six-furlong contest. The trainer was first victorious in 2013 with Supplicant before recording a second victory in 2015 with Ribchester. Fahey’s unbeaten two-year-old by Cotai Glory is one of ten declared for the feature race of the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend, worth an increased total prize fund of £100,000.

Unbeaten in one career start in a maiden stakes at Pontefract, Fahey is hopeful the £190,000 breeze-up purchase owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum will cope with the step up in grade to Group Two company on Saturday: “I thought the manner in which he did it at Pontefract was quite pleasing on the eye. We have been very pleased with him since, his work has been very good. It is a big ask for him, don’t get me wrong, but we are very much looking forward to seeing him run. Any plans for an autumn campaign will be decided after the race on Saturday.”

Fahey knows what sort of horse is required to win a Mill Reef having won it twice previously, notably with Ribchester who went on to record multiple Group 1 victories in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne and Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. When asked if any similarities between Ribchester and Powerful Glory, Fahey commented: “both go fast easily.”

Ground conditions are currently good to soft, good in places with a risk of some heavy downpours, Fahey is hoping the rain stays away for his inexperienced juvenile: “I wouldn’t want extreme conditions for no other reason than I wouldn’t want him to run on extreme ground.”

Current second favourite in the betting is the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes runner up, Shadow of Light who will be ridden by William Buick for Charlie Appleby.  He went second in the final 110yds of the race at York to beat the Adrian Keatley trained Symbol of Strength by a head, the 80/1 shot that day is also declared to run on Saturday.

Unbeaten in two career starts, Defence Minister will step into Group company for the first time and bid to give Hamad Al Jehani his first British Group success for Wathnan Racing. The son of Too Darn Hot is one of two runners supplemented for Saturday’s contest along with the winner of the £100,000 Tattersalls Sommerville Auction Stakes, Brian. Trained by Sylvester Kirk, the son of Shaman is looking to reverse the form with Symbol of Strength having finished third behind Keatley’s Group 3 winner in the Unibet Sirenia Stakes in early September.

The line-up is completed by the Jack Channon trained Sarab Star who is unbeaten in one career start and Andesite representing the Karl Burke yard. La Bellota will line up on Saturday still a maiden, Group 2 July Stakes runner up Billboard Star from the Eve Johnson Houghton yard and Star Anthem for trainer Clive Cox who has not been seen since the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Tickets are available to purchase online HERE.