Ross expresses some disappointment with the field for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, typically a strong Group Two contest.
Powerful Glory
Powerful Glory is viewed as the likely favourite, having delivered an impressive debut win at Pontefract last month. Although he was a bit slow to start, he quickly took the lead and won comfortably, finishing nearly six lengths ahead of the runner-up. Backed as a 10-11 favourite, he was well-regarded by connections, and trainer Richard Fahey has spoken highly of this son of Cotai Glory, making his opinion noteworthy, especially regarding his young horses.
Powerful Glory falls into the “could be anything” category, and while he is expected to perform well, moving from a Pontefract maiden to a Group Two race is a significant step up, and the form of his victory hasn't fully panned out. The runner-up, Sands Of Indi, has been beaten in her subsequent races, as has the fourth-placed Dark Rosa, although the third horse, Dash Dizzy, boosted the form by winning at Kempton in his next start.
Despite the field not being particularly strong, there is solid competition with plenty of experience among the runners.
Defence Minister
Defence Minister should not be underestimated; his owners, Wathnan Racing, have a good stable of juveniles, which adds to his appeal. He is unbeaten in two starts, indicating he has potential, but only one future winner has emerged from those races, suggesting he may need to improve significantly to be a contender here.
Weather conditions may play a crucial role in the race outcome. The BHA website notes that Newbury will be aerating the track, which should help water penetrate in case of heavy rain. This preparation may lead to slower ground conditions than the current good to soft if rain arrives, providing a different dynamic to the race.
Adrian Keatley-trained Symbol Of Strength, a son of Kodiac, is expected to thrive on soft ground. He has gained valuable experience over four starts, notably finishing third in the Gimcrack at York and then winning the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton, where he finished strongly after initially being off the bridle. At a best price of 8-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes, he appears to be an excellent each-way option.
Another selection is the aptly named Brian, who showed stamina by finishing third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and has proven his affinity for soft ground by winning a competitive sales race at Newmarket. In his latest outing, he made a strong late charge in the Sirenia Stakes, closing in on Symbol Of Strength. Given his stamina and preference for soft conditions, it’s anticipated that jockey Liam Keniry will take a more positive approach this time. At 10-1, Brian is also a recommended each-way bet against an unproven favourite.
Quai De Bethune
Quai De Bethune, trained by Andrew Balding, finished third on debut at Sandown, a promising effort that may have gone unnoticed due to the attention on the impressive winner, Cosmic Year.
He stood in the stalls at the start, losing ground and position, but travelled comfortably at the back. Although he displayed signs of greenness when asked to quicken, he found his stride in the final furlong and finished well. His sire, Persian King, handled soft ground effectively, suggesting that as winter approaches, the Balding team should find suitable opportunities for this promising colt to secure a win.