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From RP....

Coeur De Lionne targets Dubai Carnival


by David Milnes

ED DUNLOP is planning to campaign his new recruit Coeur De Lionne at next month's Dubai carnival.

The three-year old joined the Newmarket trainer after being purchased by Stephen Lamprell for 350,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sale in November.

A three-time winner for Roger Charlton in the summer, Coeur De Lionne has not been out since beating Pivotal Answer by a short head in a handicap at Kempton in September.

His new owner, who is Dubai-based, was in the news recently when selling his Prix de l'Opera winner Satwa Queen to Sheikh Mohammed for 3.4 million gns at the December Sales .

Dunlop said: "Both Coeur De Lionne and King Charles are set to run at the carnival in Dubai next month. Coeur De Lionne looks a fun horse to have around, and we are planning to start him off in a handicap at Nad Al Sheba on January 24.

"Hopefully, he will then have a couple more starts out there over ten or 12 furlongs, and then return here to be prepared for Royal Ascot."


>>Royal Oath, emphatic winner of the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in June, has had his proposed US career put on hold to head a select team from the John Gosden stable at next month's International Racing Carnival in Dubai.

The four-year old, who trounced Flipando in winning the Royal meeting, had been set for a switch to California in the autumn to take advantage of better prize money opportunities.

Connections are likely to find similiar pickings at the eleven week Carnival which starts on January 17 and culminates in the 13th running of the $6M Dubai World Cup on March 29th.

Royal Oath,who will be accompanied by stablemates Escape Route and Racer Forever in Dubai,has won on both grass and the all-weather and was last sighted when finishing fourth to Echo of Light in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York in September.