Tryster So Impressive In Dubai Millennium

Tryster proved that racing on turf is no problem when coming from last to impressive first in the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors over 10 furlongs at Meydan on Thursday, February 18.

The five-year-old son of Shamardal, trained by Charlie Appleby and partnered by William Buick, was slow into stride as the stalls opened.

Held up last of the 10 runners with a steady pace set up front by the other Godolphin runner, Haafaguinea (Saeed bin Suroor/Frederik Tylicki), Tryster did not make a move until being switched to the outside with a quarter-mile to race.

He came with a terrific run to lead with more than half a furlong remaining and went clear, winning easily by two and three quarter lengths from Haafaguinea, who kept on well, in 2m 4.79s.

Tryster has run in six All-Weather races in Britain and won them all, five on Polytrack and one on Tapeta. He has now succeeded on eight of his 11 starts.

Charlie Appleby commented: "On paper, Tryster had to be very competitive in this race. The question asked by a lot of people was whether he could show on the turf what he has on the All-Weather and he has clearly done that tonight.

"The time he clocked in the last two furlongs of the Coral Easter Classic had only been reached a few times. They went steady tonight and, although I've said he wants a good gallop, I wound the clock back to the Easter Classic when they went steady and that was the best turn of foot he has shown.

"I am just delighted he has put up that sort of performance on the turf because it opens up a lot more options for him.

"On the performance this evening, he deserves a shot at those good races but the competition on Dubai World Cup Night is going to be a lot stiffer.

"The horse will have thrived for that tonight because he is a big confidence horse. We will see how he comes out of it and possibly look at the Jebel Hatta (G1, 9f turf, March 5) or go straight for the Dubai Turf (G1, 9f turf, March 26)."

William Buick said: "It is a huge relief to see Tryster perform like that on the turf.

"Obviously, the Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup Night is an option now. I know that's over nine furlongs but he has got so much pace.

"Tonight was a very good performance from a very good horse. We are just very happy that he adapted in that quality of race on the turf.

"He has won mile and a quarter sprint races before. When he won the Coral Easter Classic last year they hacked and, even on a tight track like Lingfield Park, he was able to pick them up.

"You would have to be impressed by his turn of foot - we have only have seen it on Polytrack before and it is very nice to see it on turf.

"Tryster has a great acceleration but always seems to miss the break - it's the way he races. I thought that it was going a bit tricky at halfway because we were tightly bunched and not going very fast.

"It was a fair race, without being overwhelming in quality, but it was a very good performance when I pulled Tryster out. He was going very well and quickened very well.

"It's nice to see him win on turf. I know that he has won on turf before but nowhere near that quality. When we tried him on turf in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Sandown Park, UK) last year, he disappointed us and we were at a loss a little bit.

"The All-Weather in Britain is great but, now that we know he goes on turf, it opens a lot of doors for him. Touch wood, he will go for a big race like the Dubai Turf or something similar.

"They went slow tonight and when he gets a strongly-run race, which the Dubai Turf can be sometimes, I think that he will be even more potent. Nine furlongs shouldn't be a problem because he has the pace of a miler.

"It was a very good performance and we are really pleased because Charlie and his team at home do such a good job with him. It's great for everybody and H H Sheikh Mohammed."