Champions Series stars out to shine on World Cup night

Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven will take her chance in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Picture: Racingfotos.com

No fewer than eight horses who have chalked up at least one success in the QIPCO British Champions will be in action on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Saturday night.

Middle-distance stars Postponed, Highland Reel and Seventh Heaven will meet in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, while crack sprinter Limato will line up in the Al Quoz Sprint.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Gold Cup is set to feature Sheikhzayedroad, Big Orange, Quest For More and Trip To Paris.

In addition, such as Ribchester, Mutakayyef, Jack Hobbs, Washington DC, Kingfisher and Jungle Cat – who have all run with distinction in the Champions Series without yet managing a success – will also be in action.

Postponed won the Sheema Classic in great style last year and the Roger Varian-trained six-year-old is the general 2-1 favourite to repeat that success. He returned from Dubai to win the Investec Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International Stakes.

Globetrotting Highland Reel, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, is quoted at 5-1, the same price as Jack Hobbs, who was third behind Almanzor and Found in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Seventh Heaven, emphatic winner of the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, is 7-1.

Limato, winner of the Darley July Cup last summer and second in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, is a best-priced 5-2 to land the Al Quoz Sprint. He looked in fine fettle when Champions Series paid him a visit this month.

Dual Qatar Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange will attempt to go one better than he did 12 months ago in the Dubai Gold Cup, but will again have Vazirabad, who mastered him on that occasion, standing in his way.

Sheikhzayedroad and Quest For More, the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup victor, had great tussles in the Doncaster Cup and QIPCO British Champion Long Distance Cup in 2016 – the former came out on top each time – while Trip To Paris, winner of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2015, is also back for more.