Dubai Honour is no stranger to success at Randwick, having already etched his name in Queen Elizabeth Stakes history. However, handler Isabella Paul admits the 2024 edition will pose a different kind of test for the well-travelled gelding.
The William Haggas-trained runner captured the Queen Elizabeth in 2023 when he was most competitive at mid-range distances in Europe.
Now, two years on, Dubai Honour has reinvented himself as a mile-and-a-half specialist, highlighted by his last-start victory in the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
Returning to the 2000-metre trip for this weekend’s $5 million Randwick showdown raises a few question marks for Paul, who has accompanied the gelding on his travels.
“He probably is a bit more vulnerable back to that trip,” Paul said.
“Whether it’s because, prior to that, we were running against Romantic Warriors and horses like that, and it’s enough to find anyone out, even the best horses. Whether that had a bit to do with it, but he has definitely been more consistent over the mile-and-a-half trip.”
Despite any distance concerns, Dubai Honour has proven up to the task every time he’s stepped out in Australia.
He claimed the Ranvet-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double in 2023 and extended his unbeaten Australian streak with his recent Tancred win.
Paul is hoping that run continues and says the gelding has taken no harm from his latest effort.
“That would be nice, to keep the perfect record,” she said.
“It’s obviously not that straightforward and he’s got an outside draw.
“There are couple of horses in there which will hopefully mean there is good pace and that would also be a benefit.”
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) sees Via Sistina as the firm favourite, with Dubai Honour next in the betting at $6.
Paul is excited by the prospect of two seasoned veterans clashing on one of racing’s biggest stages.
“She is just a phenomenal filly. It’s such a credit to Chris Waller that she is still running as well as she is at seven-years-old,” Paul said.
“I think it’s quite cool to have two seven-year-olds going up against each other and it just shows you they are really, really versatile and how tough they can be.
“And if they still enjoy racing and they can have seriously long, very profitable careers.”
Dubai Honour and Via Sistina have a combined total of 52 starts and more than $18 million in earnings.
