FAREER and DUBAI PHANTOM, both of whom are soon heading off to Dubai for the Carnival, limbered up on the Polytrack before racing at Lingfield, but, while they will definitely be in action at Meydan, Ed stressed that our dual Oaks heroine SNOW FAIRY, who hit the jackpot in Japan and Hong Kong towards the end of last year, has yet to resume cantering after her globetrotting excursions, and that the filly will effectively make the decision herself.
Ed said:"Snow Fairy put on 25k during her mini holiday, which is quite a lot for a filly who is relatively small, and, though she has been trotting this past fortnight, it will be next week before she has her first canter."
"The plan was always to race Snow Fairy at four - that was made even before she went to Japan - but she clearly enjoys the travelling and Dubai would be a great place to relaunch her career. She will be entered for the World Cup and I would not have any qualms about the tapeta surface as she won her maiden over six furlongs (1200 metres) on the Polytrack at Lingfield as a two-year-old, but she will also be entered for both the Sheema Classic (2400 metres) and the Duty Free (1800 metres) so we have all the angles covered."
"However, if it looks as if Dubai will come too soon for Snow Fairy she will stay at home, and we will look for something else. There is the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April, but obviously we are aware of all the major prizes around the globe in the second half of the season, so she won't be getting up for every dance through the summer."
"It was good to see Fareer and Dubai Phantom stretch their legs at Lingfield. We have had the Carnival in mind for Fareer for some time now. He won the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot in 2009 and last season captured the Hambleton Handicap at York, but he had a relatively light 2010 and has enjoyed a nice break since he ran in the Summer Mile at Ascot in July, so there is plenty of juice still in the lemon, and he is a horse with a definite touch of class."
"Dubai Phantom has been added to the La Grange Stables team, having joined us from David Simcock. He stays well and his only win last year came on the Polytrack at Kempton, so he should feel quite at home around Meydan in the mornings."