Dubai Sand & Zorion among Leopardstown Trials Day contenders

7 April, 2017

Highly promising three-year-olds Dubai Sand and Zorion headline a four-strong Godolphin team for Leopardstown's Classic Trials Day on Saturday, April 8.

Dubai Sand (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) runs in the G3 Ballysax Stakes (16.00hrs local time) over a mile and a quarter following a progressive juvenile season that culminated with a half-length success in the nine-furlong Listed Eyrefield Stakes, also at Leopardstown, at the end of October.

The Teofilo colt is joined by Saltonstall (Mick Halford/William Buick), who was sixth in the Eyrefield Stakes and had stayed on well to take a seven-furlong maiden at Limerick earlier the same month.

Dubai Sand and Saltonstall tackle seven rivals headed by G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Yucatan and G2 scorer Capri.

Jimmy Hyland, the Godolphin representative in Ireland, said: "Dubai Sand has been training very well for this, although the ground might be a bit of a concern as he would like faster ground than the current yielding at Leopardstown.

"We want to get him started and expect him to improve for his first run of the year.

"Saltonstall has been working very well and we are looking forward to seeing him on the track.

"He will like the ground and will stay well. This race will decide what his future plans will be."

Unbeaten Zorion (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning), who goes for the seven-runner Listed 2,000 Guineas Trial (14.20hrs local time) over a mile, stormed to a comprehensive victory on his only two-year-old appearance in a seven-furlong Roscommon maiden in August, when he forged clear to score by six and a half lengths.

Dubawi filly Bean Feasa (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) lines up in the G3 1,000 Guineas Trial (14.55hrs local time) over seven furlongs following three appearances in maiden company last year, including when going down by half a length in second on her debut at Naas at the end of April.

Jimmy Hyland added: "Zorion won his maiden very well last year and then had a minor setback.

"He has been training very well and we are expecting a big run.

"Bean Feasa was unlucky not to win her maiden first time out at Naas and had a few minor niggles afterwards.

"She has been going well in her training and we are hoping for an improved performance."