Dubai Station books Commonwealth Cup ticket with Pavilion Stakes success

Dubai Station booked his ticket for the Commonwealth Cup by gamely holding off Malotru in the Betway Pavilion Stakes at Newcastle.

Karl Burke’s three-year-old looked promising early last season when placed at Royal Ascot in the Norfolk Stakes and then finishing third behind French superstar Earthlight.

However, in two further runs he failed to reproduce that form but Burke subsequently reported that he had valid excuses for those efforts.

Nevertheless, he was sent off 10-1 in the Listed race, usually run at Ascot, due to plenty of strength in depth.

A’Ali, winner of the Norfolk last season, Richard Fahey’s Ventura Rebel and Marco Botti’s Malotru all appeared to hold stronger claims on the form book.

Drawn in stall 13 near the usually unfavoured stands rail, Ben Curtis decided to keep a true line and it paid dividends as he found himself in front fully two furlongs out.

Fleeting Prince, Dream Shot and last of all Malotru, who met trouble in running, threw down challenges but Dubai Station held on by a diminishing neck.

“He’s a very good horse, he shows us that on the gallops at home as he does a lot of his work with Lord Of The Lodge and probably has a better turn of foot than him,” said Burke.

“We knew we had a horse but he had a few niggles last year and we had to iron them out in the winter, just cleaning up a couple of joints, but he’s given us no problems since.

“It’s great for the owner (Ahmad Alshaikh) because he nearly sold him but we persuaded him to keep him.

“He showed plenty early last year and wouldn’t want the ground too soft, it was slow enough today so we’ll go to Ascot and hope for fast ground in the Commonwealth and he’ll go with a chance.

“He might get seven furlongs but he’s got too much speed for a mile. Ben said he was just hanging on at the end but he had to commit him early when the gap came.”

The winner was introduced at 16-1 for the Commonwealth Cup by Betfair.

Guipure picked up the new season where she left off the last one with a victory in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap at Newcastle.

Karl Burke’s filly was put up 7lb for winning at Pontefract on her final start as a juvenile but the manner of this success suggested she still has a bit in hand of the handicapper.

Burke had feared that his string might not be at concert pitch in the early days of the new season but he was registering his second winner and for jockey Ben Curtis it was a third.

Guipure (6-1) beat Bavardages by half a length with the same back to Bottom Bay.

“She’s grown through the winter and strengthened,” said Burke

“I thought she was coming here with a chance but I thought she might just need the run as our older horses that have run this week have had a good blow.

“The two-year-olds, which we’ve been teaching to race, have all run well but it’s been a bit stop-start with the older ones. She’ll come on from that and should improve for stepping up in trip.”