Alenquer Set to Tackle Dubai Sheema Classic

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Alenquer Set to Tackle Dubai Sheema Classic
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Photo: Andy Watts / Racingfotos.com
Alenquer with his connections after winning the Winter Derby at Lingfield Racecourse

Alenquer , who smashed the track record at Lingfield last Saturday when winning the Betway Winter Derby (G3), is set for his first start outside Europe when he tackles the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on the Dubai World Cup (G1) card at Meydan on March 26.

The 4-year-old produced an excellent comeback performance when running out a convincing winner of the group 3 contest at the expense of the classy Lord North , the winner of the 2021 Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (G1).

Trained by William Haggas, Alenquer will be stepping back up to a mile and a half at Meydan, the same trip he won the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot last year.

Armando Duarte, racing manager to Kuwaiti owners MM Stables, said: "Alenquer has come out of Lingfield in fantastic shape and now it's all systems go for the Sheema Classic in Dubai. I think he'll go over there with a strong chance and let's hope we can collect a big pot."

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He added of last Saturday's performance: "Looking at the sectional times at Lingfield, I was quite impressed for a horse that was only 80% fit, so hopefully he should be straighter for that when he goes out to Dubai.

"(Alenquer) wasn't stopping at Lingfield and we're happy to go up to a mile and half with him now and we think that's his best trip, although the Sheema Classic will tell us plenty."

Alenquer is 6-1 with William Hill for the Sheema Classic in which the likely opposition includes Japanese colt Authority, who won the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup (Gr. 3) in  Saudi Arabia last weekend, as well as Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Yibir .

Duarte said: "The Sheema will be strong but I'm not scared of the Japanese horse as the Saudi race was only a group 3 and was run at a slow pace. I should think Yibir will want a strong pace, whereas we have tactical speed. We beat Yibir at Sandown last year and I know he has improved since then, but so has our horse."

Alenquer could have some high-profile domestic targets in the summer once the flat turf season kicks off in Britain later this month.

Duarte added: "After Dubai, Alenquer will probably have a break and go for something like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and maybe then another crack at the Juddmonte International (G1) at York in which he was second to Mishriff ."