This time last year Pride of Dubai gelding Dubai Honour (IRE) was in Sydney getting ready to win the $5million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes in which he defeated Anamoe and 12 months on he’s back in the UK and kicked off his 2024 season with a powerful win in the Listed Magnolia Stakes (1m2f) overnight at Kempton.
Trained by William Haggas, Dubai Honour was partnered by Ryan Moore in his seasonal return and left no doubt he’s back in business when cruising clear to win by three lengths.
Dubai Honour finished third last year in the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Sha Tin to Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong after his two Group I wins in Australia and that race looms as his likely next assignment.
“Dubai Honour was a bit fresh and I think the run will have done him the world of good. He's such a grand horse, a sweet one, and that was good,” said Maureen Haggas.
“It's nice to get his head back in front. He won a Group I only a year ago, but when you do those foreign trips, it takes time to get them back in the groove again. He needs to go after the money and is a slow-ground horse, but did win on faster last year. I think the plan is a Group I in Hong Kong on April 28.”
Purchased for 110,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Rabbah Bloodstock, Dubai Honour has the overall record of seven wins and five placings from 21 starts.
Dubai Honour is the best of three winners from Mondelice, an unraced half-sister by Montjeu to Frankel’s globetrotting Group III winner Last Kingdom (USA), who stood for two seasons at stud in Australia.
Dubai Honour is one of four elite Group I winners for Pride of Dubai that include Pride of Jenni, who will look to replicate his success when she also lines up in the $5million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday week.
