Park bids by D’bai and Dutch Connection

D’bai and Dutch Connection go for further Pattern success over seven furlongs in the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster, UK, on Saturday, 15 September. 

Four-year-old D’Bai (Charlie Appleby/William Buick, drawn six) steps back up in class and trip after coming home fourth in the G3 Prix de Meautry over six furlongs at Deauville, France on 26 August. 

The son of Dubawi was the game winner of the G3 John of Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs at Haydock in June and has acquitted himself well in two of Europe’s top G1 sprints this year, finishing sixth in both the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in June and the Prix Maurice de Gheest in August.

Charlie Appleby reported: “D’Bai won a G3 over this distance at Haydock in May and the return to seven furlongs should suit. 

“He has produced a couple of good performances at G1 level this season and, if he can reproduce that level of form, it should make him a live contender.”

Dutch Connection (Charlie Hills/James Doyle, drawn eight), best on a sound surface, finished two places behind D’bai when a close seventh in the G2 Lennox Stakes over the same trip at Glorious Goodwood on 31 July. 

The six-year-old has won a Group contest over seven furlongs in each of the past four seasons, including the 2016 Lennox Stakes, and stayed on to take fourth over a mile in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury earlier this year. 

Charlie Hills commented: “Dutch Connection ran a good race on his latest start in the Lennox Stakes, when he wasn’t beaten that far. 

“I have been very pleased with him at home and he heads to Doncaster in great form.”

There is a nine-strong field for the Park Stakes, headed by G3 winner Mustashry.

Also at Doncaster on Saturday, unbeaten two-year-old Dark Vision (Mark Johnston/Silvestre de Sousa) is trying for a second successive G2 victory over seven furlongs in the Champagne Stakes. 

The Dream Ahead colt, a novice race winner over six furlongs at Yarmouth and York, produced an exhilarating display in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on 31 July, when he quickened from last to first for a decisive victory by a length and three quarters.

Drawn six, he takes on five rivals including another unbeaten colt, Too Darn Hot, in the Champagne Stakes.