Gosden Dubai Pair Have Works at Chelmsford
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Without Parole after his win in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot
John Gosden took his Dubai World Cup night contenders Without Parole and Weekender for an awayday to Chelmsford March 16, when the pair impressed in a mile work with a lead horse.
The champion trainer is preparing last year's St James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Without Parole for a clash with Japan Cup (G1) winner Almond Eye in the March 30 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan.
A 14-1 chance for the $5 million prize, for which Almond Eye is 5-4 favorite, Without Parole was last seen finishing sixth to Recoletos in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp in September, in which subsequent Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Expert Eye finished third.
Gosden, who has previously taken stars like The Fugue to Chelmsford for a change of scene, reported: "It was just regular work for Without Parole and Weekender and they both worked nicely. It was pretty windy but they had it at their backs down the straight, which helped, and they are both on course to run at Meydan."
Weekender, like Without Parole a son of Frankel, had some smart placed form to his name last year, including a second in the Ebor, which was followed by a third in the Comer Group International Irish St, Leger (G1).
The 5-year-old signed off with a modest seventh in the Teddington Royal British Legion St. Simon Stakes (G3) at Newbury in October, when he may not have been in love with the good to soft ground.
Weekender has the group 2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors on his World Cup night agenda, for which he is a general 10-1 chance for a possible clash with Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Cross Counter.
One Gosden star who will not be turning up at Meydan is all-weather sensation Wissahickon, who will miss the Dubai Sheema Classic due to a blood abnormality. The Betway Winter Derby (G1) winner had been a 10-1 shot for the $6 million contest, which Gosden has won with Dar Re Mi and Jack Hobbs.
"Wissahickon's blood wasn't quite right after the Winter Derby so he won't be going to Dubai," Gosden revealed. "Hopefully it will come right in time for the Easter Classic at Lingfield next month."
The son of Tapit is a general 2-5 chance for the £200,000 Betway Easter Classic April 19.