Group I Winner Nayef on Target for Dubai World Cup

Dubai Champion Stakes (Eng-I) winner Nayef is doing well and remains on target for either the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) or Dubai Sheema Clasic (UAE-IT), according to a Racing Post story.

"I don't know whether he will be having a prep in the Maktoum Challenge but the main objective is that we have him ready and right for the World Cup or one of the supporting races, which would be the turf race (Dubai Sheema Classic) I would have thought," Tregoning told the Racing Post. "I've also got Mubtaker over there as well and they are in good form. We're happy with them and it's all going well at the moment."

Nayef is a half-brother of Epsom Derby (Eng-I) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I) winner Nashwan (by Blushing Groom). That Nayef is by American sire Gulch adds to Tregoning's belief that the 4-year-old colt will take to a dirt track.

"He seems to handle it particularly well," the conditioner told the paper. "I never thought myself that he wanted soft ground over here but it was always soft when he was running. I think he's a better horse on faster ground. He's got such a good action, he's got beautiful action and does seem to have been effective on the track at Nad al Sheba."

Still, Tregoning adds, "You never know how they will handle it at racing pace but he does seem to have the right balance."

Nayef was undefeated in two starts as a juvenile, then finished third when prepping for the Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) in the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes (Eng-I). He disappointed in the Guineas, a race his half-brother won in 1989, then was given some time off. The bay colt returned in late July to again finish third in an English group III but then kicked off a four-race winning streak in the Petros Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Eng-III). He carries over that win streak into his 4-year-old season.

Nayef, who defeated Tobougg by three-quarters of a length in the Champion Stakes, was named England's highweighted 3-year-old colt from distances of 1 3/16 miles to 1 3/8 miles.