Hukum to bypass Hong Kong Vase in favour of Dubai Sheema Classic challenge

Hukum, a 5-1 chance with William Hill for next month's Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, will miss the race as connections have instead decided to target the classy four-year-old at the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

Only Lambourn counterpart Pyledriver and Glory Vase, who won the mile-and-a-half Group 1 in 2019, are shorter in the betting than Hukum, who has won four of his seven starts in 2021 and was last seen recording a career best in October's Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.

He is trained by Owen Burrows for Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, the legacy operation of owner-breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum, who died in March.

Watch Hukum win the Cumberland Lodge

His daughter Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum will maintain the family's interest in the sport, albeit at a smaller level, and it has been decided not to field Hukum – an older brother to star miler Baaeed – in the £1.9 million Vase on December 12.

The Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup day at Meydan on March 26 is now the next aim.

Burrows said on Sunday: "We're not going to Hong Kong. He's having an easy time now and then he'll go to Dubai for the Sheema Classic. I've spoken to Angus [Gold, Shadwell's racing manager], who has spoken to Sheikha Hissa, and we felt he's been on the go for quite a while and we'd give it a miss.

"He'll have an easyish time and then get busy again in January, and Meydan should suit him, while it would be wonderful to take him out there for Sheikh Hamdan's family. It would be great to have a runner out there – he'd be my first – and if he could do well it would be brilliant.

"We'll see about a prep race, but he won first time out last season at Royal Ascot and he might have a couple of racecourse gallops in Britain. He won't be roughed off and is the type of horse you keep ticking over because he can get quite fresh if he doesn't do enough. I'd like to think a couple of racecourse gallops would put him spot on."

Burrows started training in 2017 from Kingwood House, but next season will be based at the nearby Farncombe Down Stables, which Shadwell used as a pre-training and rehabilitation yard, when he will also open his doors to new owners having been a private trainer for the Maktoum family since taking out his licence.

"I've got the yearlings over at the new yard and have 15 left at Kingwood who will move down in the next couple of weeks," he added. "I've got between 30-40 horses and, come April and the breeze-up sales, I'll be doing my best to drum up some business."

Read more:

Shadwell to offer 18-strong team at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

Hukum ensures a testing week ends on a high for Owen Burrows

'The ones we've got have plenty of ability' – Burrows upbeat despite numbers dip

First royal winner for Burrows as Hukum strikes in King George V Stakes

Record-breaking trade at Goffs as well-bred Shadwell yearlings go down a storm

Sign up to receive The Ante-Postman, Robbie Wilders' new weekly newsletter. Get weekend tips, Cheltenham Festival fancies and big-race selections delivered straight to your inbox.