Tryster & Haafaguinea For Dubai Millennium Prize

Time/Date - 20.45hrs local time/Thursday, February 18, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Meydan/UAE
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f

Tryster returns to turf for the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors, with Haafaguinea also lining up for Godolphin in the 10-furlong highlight of this week's Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, February 18.

Five-year-old Tryster (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) has established himself as one of the UK's top All-Weather performers following six victories on Polytrack and Tapeta, headed by a pair of imptressive wins over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park last year, in the G3 coral.co.uk Winter Derby and the Coral Easter Classic.

The son of Shamardal failed to run to the same level on turf when last of five in the 10-furlong G3 Cantor Fitzgerald Research Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park in June but bounced back to form on his latest start with a cosy success in a nine-furlong Polytrack conditions race at Chelmsford City on September 26.

Haafaguinea (Saeed bin Suroor/Frederik Tylicki) goes for a third straight win on the turf of Meydan, having gained a smooth half-length success in a 12-furlong handicap on January 21 and captured a similar contest over two furlongs shorter in February, 2015.

The six-year-old son of Haafhd also captured another 10-furlong turf handicap at last year's Dubai World Cup Carnival and was runner-up in both his starts at Meydan in 2014.

Charlie Appleby said: "I have been pleased with the way Tryster has wintered out in Dubai. We had given consideration to run him on dirt but felt that he would be more suited to the turf.

"He won his maiden on the turf at Brighton and the way the Brigadier Gerard Stakes was run did not suit him. He needs plenty of runners and a good strong pace, so hopefully he will get those conditions this week.

"If he doesn't run well, we can put a line through running him on turf and view him as an All-Weather horse.

"His work has been very good and he looks great at the moment. If he can reproduce his All-Weather form and style of running, then he is going to be very competitive."

Saeed bin Suroor said: "Haafaguinea won well on his seasonal return and has been working nicely."He is a tough horse, who always tries hard, and we felt that he deserved a chance in a better race.

"It's a Group Three, so Haafaguinea will be coming up against tough opposition, but he likes the course and is in good form."

Tryster is drawn five of the 10 runners, while Haafaguinea is in stall two.

Godolphin has plenty of runners on Thursday's card including talented sprinter Toscanini (Michael Halford/William Buick), who makes his Meydan debut in the Jaguar F-Type Handicap (21.20hrs) over five furlongs on turf.

Let's Go (Saeed bin Suroor/Frederik Tylicki) is joined by Cat O'Mountain (William Buick) and Artigiano (Mickael Barzalona), both representing Charlie Appleby, in the Land Rover Discovery Sport Handicap (21.55hrs) over an extended nine furlongs on dirt.

American Hope (Saeed bin Suroor/William Buick) and Footbridge (Charlie Appleby/Richard Mullen) have been declared for the other dirt contest for Thoroughbreds on the card, the mile Range Rover Sport Handicap (20.10hrs). Both of Godolphin's Dubai-based trainers are set to be double-handed in the Jaguar XF Handicap (22.30hrs) over a mile on turf.

Charlie Appleby has Flash Fire (William Buick) and Secret Brief (Mickael Barzalona), with Saeed bin Suroor due to run Carry On Deryck (David Probert) and Udododontu (Frederik Tylicki).