Caspar Fownes is hopeful Senor Toba meets better circumstances when the triple Group 3-winning grey lines up in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold (2410m) at Meydan’s Super Saturday fixture (4 March) in Dubai.

The Toronado gelding finished seventh last start in the QAT G1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) at Al Rayyan in Doha, Qatar after he was cramped for running room behind the leading pair as Russian Emperor swept to victory from the tail of the field.

“We just have to get him into the right spot, not in between runners which took the wind out of his sail. Hopefully we can get him into a good rhythm and keep him away from them.

“He appears to be in good nick. His bodyweight has picked up since he left Doha, he’s put on about 10 kilograms – which is nice to see. He looks well and hopefully he gives us a big run,” Fownes said.

Senor Toba has won twice at Group 3 level in Hong Kong, claiming the 2022 G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) and 2023 G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m).

“We just have to hope the horse brings his A-game, and if he does, he’s going to be competitive wherever he goes,” Fownes said.

Prior to export from Australia, the five-year-old finished second in the 2021 G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm. He also won the 2021 G3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick.

Fownes is no stranger to overseas success – best known for his five high-class wins in Singapore with Green Birdie, Lucky Nine and Southern Legend. Senor Toba is also entered for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) at the Dubai World Cup meeting (25 March).

Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance has been withdrawn from the Dubai City Of Gold. The Dubawi gelding shaped as a leading contender following his recent win in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (2400m) at Keeneland.

Senor Toba will break from barrier eight in the US$350,000 (approx. HK$2.74 million) contest. 

Fellow Hong Kong visitor Russian Emperor will contest Saturday’s G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan. Alberto Sanna will ride both Senor Toba and Russian Emperor this weekend.

Ryan Moore booked to ride Sight Success in Al Quoz Sprint

John Size has called upon familiar ally Ryan Moore to partner Sight Success in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at the Dubai World Cup meeting on 25 March at Meydan.

Moore – one of the world’s finest jockeys – won the 2021 Al Quoz Sprint aboard Extravagant Kid and has enjoyed plenty of big-race success in tandem with Size in Hong Kong, notably combining to win the 2018 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) atop Ping Hai Star as well as the first two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series in 2016 with Sun Jewellery.

“He’s ridden there quite often and he didn’t have anything else – first time I asked him he said ‘yes’ and that was it,” Size said. “It wasn’t too difficult, he rode Wellington so he knows him (Sight Success).”

Moore has five wins this season in Hong Kong – including three for Size – led by a 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) triumph with Wellington when deputising for an injured Alexis Badel.

Sight Success is an eight-time winner from 24 starts and has shown significant improvement across the last 12 months – placing second to Wellington in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint last December before winning the 2023 G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m).

“He ran very well in the Hong Kong Sprint. When he first started racing he probably wasn’t ready for it, he’s been pretty late developing for a sprinter and again this season, he has improved some more.

“He trialled up at Conghua and he’s down at Sha Tin now. He’ll trial again and then we’ll head over and see what happens,” Size said.

The six-year-old by Magnus has banked HK$20.05 million for connections and is likely to be joined by Sky Field as Hong Kong’s representatives in the race later this month.

“He’s (Sight Success) had a lot of experience here but normally Hong Kong horses travel pretty well, they’re pretty tough and he has got a good temperament. He’s had a few big occasions and he’s handled them well, so everything will be new as a visitor and you never know but he might be good enough to get some prize money,” Size said.

The Al Quoz Sprint is run as a straight race at Meydan and in 2014 was won by Hong Kong’s Amber Sky for jockey Joao Moreira and trainer Ricky Yiu.