All Honours
Billed as a match-race between W J Haggas' five-year-old and our local pin-up boy Anamoe, Dubai Honour backed up his Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) win with another dominant display in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000m).
His initial rating of 125+ in the Ranvet was tricky to assess, full of running off an even tempo and while he's justified that, running to 127+ on Saturday, he's still finished full of running off a slow tempo.
The Racing & Sports speed figure was the slowest on the day, with Unicorn Lion able to walk in front. Dubai Honour has come home his last 600m in 34.53, compared to Godolphin pair Aft Cabin (35.01) and Zapateo (34.79), who both won Group 2 races over 1200m, highlighting just how slowly they went.
There's every case to be made he wins by further if the Japanese galloper ran it truly, coming from behind Anamoe in the run and dropping him easily. Anamoe has run to 121, effectively 5 pounds off his best, and just one pound better than his Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) win.
Regardless, even if Anamoe ran to his absolute best, Dubai Honour would've still likely won on Saturday. It'll be interesting to see what Godolphin do with Anamoe- this was a Royal Ascot trial of sorts.
The Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) was touted as the lofty goal. Over the past five years, the winning average of that race is actually only 125.8, and if you take out superstar Baaeed (132), it's a couple of pounds below Anamoe's best.
Given Anamoe ran to 126 just three starts back, over a mile as well, I don't think there's any real reason to change plans. Without knowing the horses who would line up there, I think there's every chance he can run well and be somewhere in the finish.
Dubai Honour meanwhile wants to really put himself in the record books and become the first winner of both QE's in Australia and Hong Kong (at least this century) with the Group 1 Hong Kong QE II Cup (2000m) firmly on the agenda.
He'd likely come up against local stars Romantic Warrior and Golden Sixty there in a thrilling clash. Timeform has Romantic Warrior rated 125 off his 4.5 length Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) win in December, and Golden Sixty rated 127 over a mile and 121 over 2000m.
With a fast(er) pace all but assured at Sha Tin, we'll get a great chance to see just how well Dubai Honour can go.