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Arab Dawn Seeking G1 Success At Rosehill

Mike Hedge
Royal Ascot winner Arab Dawn will be out to add a G1 prize to his already impressive record when he runs in the G1 BMW at Rosehill on Saturday, March 26.

Royal Ascot winner Arab Dawn will be out to add a G1 prize to his already impressive record when he runs in the G1 BMW at Rosehill on Saturday, March 26.

The winner of the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at last year's Royal meeting, Arab Dawn (John O'Shea/James McDonald) showed he'd brought his English form with him to Australia when he beat a handy field at Rosehill last month before finishing fourth over 2000m at Canberra on March 6.

"He got a bit cluttered up in a leader dominated race at Canberra and I think he was probably looking for more ground," said trainer John O'Shea.

"Everything he's done since has been good and the extra 400m here will suit him. If he comes through it as I expect him to we'll probably go to the G1 Sydney Cup in a couple of weeks."

Arab Dawn heads a strong Godolphin line-up on a card that also provides G1 prospects for the fillies Ambience (John O'Shea/Brenton Avdulla) and Asinara (John O'Shea/James McDonald) in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes.

"Ambience is ticking along nicely and I think she's better suited in this race than she was last start when she had to give weight all round," O'Shea said.

"Asinara is a very talented filly who's come a long way in a short time, but she continues to run well and I'm happy to give her the chance to get some more black type."

In other races at Rosehill, O'Shea will be looking to Old North to add his name to the stable's G1 Australian Derby prospects when he runs in the G2 Tulloch Stakes.

"His performance on Saturday will decide whether we go on to the Derby with him. He's done very well since his last run and he's out of an Oaks-winning mare, so there's a good chance he'll run the 2400m of the Derby," he said.

Two more former English performers, Magic Hurricane (John O'Shea/Damien Oliver) and It's Somewhat (John O'Shea/James McDonald), line up in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes.

For Magic Hurricane, the winner of the G1 Metropolitan Handicap last Spring, the race is a stepping stone to next month's G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

"I had him entered for the BMW but I decided on this easier race to give him a chance to get his confidence back after his run on a firm track here a couple of weeks ago," O'Shea said.

The O'Shea team at Rosehill is completed by Havana Cooler (James McDonald) who resumes in the G3 Doncaster Prelude, Barbed (James McDonald) in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes and the two-year-olds Achi Baba (Tye Angland), Obscura (Craig Williams) and Wine (James McDonald) in the G3 Schweppervescence.

ARAB DAWN