Dubai Honour Up in Suspended Air Crisis

Travel complications linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have delayed plans for a third Australian campaign by the globetrotting Dubai Honour, with the William Haggas-trained star currently stranded in Newmarket after his scheduled flight was unable to depart. The eight-year-old had been due to travel last weekend alongside stablemate Caviar Heights, but the aircraft arranged for their journey remains stuck in Dubai. Despite the setback, connections remain hopeful the defending champion can still take his place in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on March 28, a race he is aiming to win for a second successive year. However, the disruption has forced a change to the preparation of Caviar Heights, who will now miss his intended lead-up run in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes scheduled for March 21. Preparations for the trip had been underway for several weeks. Both horses entered quarantine in Newmarket on February 13 and have been maintained in steady work while awaiting travel clearance, exercising regularly on the Al Bahathri Polytrack during the afternoons as the stable attempts to keep their conditioning on track. Few international runners arrive in Australia with a stronger record than Dubai Honour, who has accumulated more than £5 million in earnings during a distinguished career. Another significant prize remains within reach should he successfully defend his Tancred Stakes crown, with the race offering stakes of more than £430,000. His affinity with Australian racing was first demonstrated in 2023 when he captured both the Ranvet Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick over 2000 metres. Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas explained the situation facing the stable, saying: "Unfortunately Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights were unable to fly out last weekend due to their plane being stuck in Dubai. They have continued to exercise here in the afternoons and we're hoping they can now fly out on Sunday." She acknowledged the revised timetable was not ideal but emphasised that the stable remains focused on the Sydney targets. "They still have to do two weeks of quarantine when they get there, which isn't ideal, but there are bigger things going on in the world right now. Caviar Heights won't be able to run in the Ranvet, so they'll both run in the Tancred Stakes. After that, we'll be looking to have another go at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes." Air travel across the United Arab Emirates has begun gradually returning to normal after the regional disruption, with limited passenger services restarting in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Meanwhile, racing activity elsewhere in the region has also been affected, with the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club cancelling three scheduled meetings and indicating no fixtures will be staged until at least next Wednesday.