Shader faces a stern examination of his G3 Midnite Winter Derby credentials as he takes on multiple G1 winner Dubai Honour in the Listed Midnite Churchill Stakes (2.40pm) at Southwell on Friday, November 28.
Shader announced himself as a potential top-notcher for John & Thady Gosden in the Listed Unibet Floodlit Stakes at Kempton Park earlier this month, in which he defeated dual G1 runner-up West Wind Blows by nine lengths.
Twice placed on turf, the Juddmonte four-year-old is defending a 100 per cent record on the all-weather, having posted a pair of impressive novice victories at Southwell and Kempton Park last autumn.
Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s General Manager, Ireland and European Racing, said: “Shader has come out of Kempton very well. He is a fresh horse who ought to have come on for that run and we are looking forward to seeing him out again.
“We have always held him in high regard, although the way he won at Kempton was a slight surprise as he had been off the track a long time and we were not sure if he was ready enough.
“Dubai Honour is a very good horse, a multiple G1 winner who has campaigned all over the world. Shader will probably have to improve again to beat him, even in receipt of weight, and it will be a good guide to where our horse is at.
“The plan at the moment is to keep Shader on the go for the Winter Derby. That was the thinking after Kempton and, provided Friday goes well and he remains in good form, that is what we will do.”
Globetrotter Dubai Honour notched his fourth G1 win in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill in April and has since performed creditably in Europe, finishing second to Goliath in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and Convergent in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris.
Winner of the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton Park in 2024, William Haggas’ seven-year-old bids to go one better in the Midnite Churchill Stakes following his second to The Foxes at Newcastle last year.
The Foxes’ trainer Andrew Balding is represented by 2024 G2 Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Royal Playwright, who has performed creditably in Stakes company this year. Marco Botti saddles unbeaten all-weather performer Palazzo Blu, while course scorer Universal Story completes the field for Jennie Candlish.
Later on the card, leading all-weather sprinter Marshman returns from 198 days off in the Listed Midnite Golden Rose Stakes (3.15pm) over six furlongs, in which eight of the 13 runners are rated 102 or higher.
Trained by Karl Burke, Marshman captured the Listed Kachy Stakes at Lingfield Park in February and finished a creditable third under top-weight in the All-Weather Sprint Handicap on Finals Day.
Rogue Lightning heads two contenders for Tom Clover as he makes his first start since coming home ninth in the G1 July Cup. The five-year-old landed Qatar’s Dukhan Sprint in February and followed up with two appearances in the USA, including finishing second in the G2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland.
Clover also saddles Invictus Gold, who was an eye-catching winner of a three-year-old handicap at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival. The son of Invincible Spirit has made two subsequent appearances, latterly finishing a close fifth at Kempton Park earlier this month.
Clover said: “Rogue Lightning had a small niggle after the July Cup, but he has been training well and it will be nice to get him out again with a view to going abroad afterwards.
“Winning in Qatar at the start of the year was great and then he did everything right bar win in the G2 at Keeneland. It will be good to get the show back on the road.
“Invictus Gold produced a nice performance at the Guineas meeting and then, like some of my other horses, was not quite right through the summer.
“I thought he ran a solid race under top-weight at Kempton, which he would have needed, and he has come forward from that. I can see him running a nice race.”
Other leading contenders include Apollo One, who was a luckless second for Peter Charalambous & James Clutterbuck when going for a repeat win in the G3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October.
Dash Dizzy was third in last year’s G1 Middle Park Stakes, although Charlie Johnston’s runner has not raced since finishing eighth in the G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot in April.
Royal Zabeel made great strides on the all-weather last season for Mick Appleby, culminating with a decisive victory in the Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Zoum Zoum and Ivan Furtado’s Alfa Kellenic were both placed in Listed company last time out, with the latter subsequently undergoing wind surgery.
