The Hugo Palmer trained Dubawi Legend put up a career best performance at the weekend to finish a valiant second to the dual Group One winning Native Trail in the Dewhurst and now his handler has his heart set on a trip to America.
The two year old son of Dubawi brushed aside a decent field by five lengths in a Novice Stakes on quick ground on debut, clocking some decent sectionals.
Off the back of that he was favourite for the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York but was a disappointing third of five behind the smart Royal Patronage, who has since franked the form.
Given some time off the track he returned and was nibbled at for the Dewhurst on the Saturday and having gone from the front he was only passed by the winner Native Trail.
With the colt getting back to his best in the Group One event, Palmer is now all systems go with him to head to Del Mar for the Breeders Cup meeting.
👌 Four from four
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 9, 2021
🏆 Two-time Group 1 winner
The exciting Native Trail lands the Darley Dewhurst Stakes for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and @godolphin @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/M0in8maJzl
(Credit ATR) “He’s come out of the race great. He ran an absolute blinder. He showed the world what we have always thought of him, that he is a two-year-old out of the very top drawer,” Palmer said.
“We’ve been excited about him for a long time and it was great he came and did that. It sucks being second, you’re the first loser, and on some ratings he’s the third best two-year-old in Europe.
“We’re very excited about him. I’m not saying we could have beaten the winner but it was only the third run of his career and if we’d have managed to get him to the Champagne – he had a bad scope the morning of declaration – I think he proved he’d have won that.”
He added: “He beat the Champagne winner (Bayside Boy) on Saturday. With the Champagne under his belt he might have been closer to Native Trail. Who knows? But he’s a very exciting horse going forward.
“At the moment we are planning as if we are going to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He’s going to need to be in top order for us to do that but he’s come out of the race phenomenally well.
“He actually put on two kilogrammes for the run. He’s a lightly-raced horse and he’s had plenty of breaks through the season.
“The 2000 Guineas is a proper hustle and bustle race. I think the trip to Del Mar will really make him grow up.”