Marco Botti’s Royal Dubai is set to compete in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot on Saturday, one of 13 entries in the race. The four-year-old most recently finished second in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom, following two wins at the Dubai Carnival.
Botti is considering a return to Meydan next year for Royal Dubai after a few more runs in the UK. The trainer is hoping for good ground on Saturday, as Royal Dubai performs best on top of the ground.
The stiff finish at Ascot is expected to suit Royal Dubai well, as a mile is his preferred distance. Botti believes that a mile or slightly longer is the ideal trip for Royal Dubai, with a mile and a quarter being a bit too much for him.
Looking ahead, Botti plans to target the Strensall Stakes at York with Royal Dubai before freshening him up for the Dubai Carnival. Other notable entries in the Summer Mile include Maljoom trained by William Haggas, Quddwah trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, and Embesto trained by Roger Varian, all owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
Several other horses such as Sonny Liston, Witch Hunter, Sparks Fly, and Ancient Rome are also in the mix for the Summer Mile.