Third to Churchill in the Group I English Two Thousand Guineas and then a last start second in a Group III contest at Maisons-Laffitte, the Andre Fabre trained Al Wukair has been working up to a big win.
Despite racing greenly in this one mile contest, Frankie Dettori was able to get the best from Al Wukair, who had his head in front on the line to win narrowly from the Godolphin pair Inns of Court and Thunder Snow.
"He had a setback and twisted an ankle, but I've always believed in him," said Andre Fabre.
"I think the QEII at Ascot will be next for him. We've the option to go a bit further, but let's see what the owner says. He's in the Champion Stakes too, but I think the Irish Champion Stakes could come a bit soon."
A 200,000 guinea Tattersalls October Yearling Sale purchase, Al Wukair runs for
Al Shaqab Racing and has the impressive overall record of four wins and two
placings from six starts.He is the best of three winners from Macheera, a Machiavellian daughter of French Group I winner Caerlina.
Al Wukair has the honour of being the first Group I winner for Champion Sprinter and Champion 2YO Dream Ahead and is the best of 10 stakes-winners by the five-time Group I winner.
Dream Ahead was the leading Australian Second Crop Sire last season by stakes-winners with four to his credit in Dreams Aplenty, Generalissimo, Awaken and Ken's Dream.
Interestingly, three of those stakes-winners are from daughters of Redoute's Choice, so Dream Ahead has proven himself as an outstanding outcross sire that really works!
Dream Ahead stands this spring at Aquis Farm (previously Emirates Park) in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $19,800.
