Belardo Set For Dubai Challenge Stakes
Belardo returns to Newmarket for the Group Two Dubai Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs on the first day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket, Friday, October 9.
Time/Date - 14.40hrs local time/Friday, October 9, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Newmarket/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/7f
Belardo returns to Newmarket for the Group Two Dubai Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs on the first day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket, Friday, October 9.
The Roger Varian-trained three-year-old gained his biggest success at the same meeting 12 months ago when winning readily the seven-furlong Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on soft going.
He finished eighth on his latest start in the six-furlong Group One Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on September 5, and was seventh in two of Europe's top mile races, the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 16 and the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 29.
Belardo's best run of this season so far came in the Group One Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas over a mile at the Curragh, Ireland, on May 23, when he stayed on to take fourth behind Gleneagles.
Roger Varian said: "Belardo is in good form. We hope that the return to the course and distance of his career-best performance, as well as the forecast good to soft ground, will be in his favour.
"He will need to produce a better effort than his last couple of starts but, if we can turn the clock back to his run in the Irish Guineas, he would have a great chance.
"He ticks all of the boxes in terms of course, distance and ground."
Belardo meets nine others including last year's winner Here Comes When, Group Two victor Breton Rock, Group Two Park Stakes second Markaz and German challenger Shining Emerald.
Roger Varian: trainer of Belardo © Edward Whitaker
