Lunar Sovereign to Make 2004 Debut in Dubai

Lunar Sovereign, winner of the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) for Kiaran McLaughlin last year, makes his return to the UAE at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday night when he contests the Burjaman Dubai City of Gold Stakes (UAE-III) over 2400m (about 1 1/2 miles) on the turf.

The 5-year-old son of Cobra King, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is back in the care of Saeed bin Suroor for whom he has twice been beaten at Nad Al Sheba--with a year between those appearances. Lunar Sovereign made a winning juvenile debut in the UK for David Loder on soft ground and has won also on fast turf, so underfoot conditions should not be a problem. His turf form in the U.S. is far superior to his dirt form and he would appear to hold a decent chance, though his grade I penalty will not make life easy in a competitive race in which a case can be made for all 14 runners. Lunar Sovereign hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Can-IT) at Woodbine in October.

The entries for the £200,000 City of Gold Stakes are as follows:
Horse, Trainer, Jockey (Weight)
1--Lunar Sovereign, Saeed Bin Suroor, L. Dettori (131)
2--Dutch Gold, Clive Brittain, D. Holland (124)
3--Clodion, M. Al Kurdi, no rider (122)
4--Compton Bolter, G.A. Butler, E. Ahern (134)
5--Mkuzi, John Oxx, R. Mullen (125)
6--Prince of War, M. de Kock, W.C. Marwing (127)
7--Rawyaan, John Gosden, Richard Hills (137)
8--Razkalla, David Loder, T.E. Durcan (132)
9--Scott's View, Mark Johnston, S.K.M. Chin (132)
10--St. Expedit, R. Bouresly, G. Hind (125)
11--Zurbaran, S. Padmanabhan, M. Du Plessis (none given)
12--Lodge Keeper, N. de Croutte, G. Avranche (123)
13--Al Moulathan, E. Charpy, no rider (111)
14--Swift Tango, E.A.L. Dunlop, no rider (113)