Defoe and Zabeel Prince finished for the season but will be back next year

Group 1 winners Defoe and Zabeel Prince have been signed off for the season and will be aimed at the Dubai World Cup meeting next year, trainer Roger Varian revealed on Friday morning.

Both horses enjoyed top-level breakthroughs this season, with Defoe landing the Coronation Cup at Epsom five days after Zabeel Prince had struck in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

Defoe then went on to win the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot before disappointing in the King George behind Enable, while Zabeel Prince was most recently seen beating just one home in the Sussex Stakes won by Too Darn Hot.

Zabeel Prince: made his Group 1 breakthrough at LongchampCredit: racing.com Staff

"We are pleased to report that both horses are sound and healthy after their recent efforts, but after discussions with their owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum we are in agreement that after busy campaigns mixing it with the best horses in Europe both will have a break from training before travelling to compete in their respective races in the new year," wrote Varian on his website.

The Sheema Classic, which is run over 1m4f and was won by Old Persian this year, will be Defoe's World Cup night target while Zabeel Prince will be aimed at the Dubai Turf over 1m1f. Zabeel Prince is clearly effective at the rarely used 1m1f trip as, in addition to the Prix d'Ispahan, he also won the Earl of Sefton Stakes at the distance.

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