'What dreams are made of' - Burrows eyes emotional Sheema Classic win with Hukum

Owen Burrows is hoping stable star Hukum can take a step towards an emotional success in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at the end of the month when he returns to action in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold at Meydan on Saturday (11.35).

Having trained in a private role for Hukum's late owner Hamdan Al Maktoum since 2016, the Lambourn trainer has opened his doors to other owners this season, but victory on the biggest night in Dubai's racing calendar on March 26, with a horse carrying the famous blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan, would mean the world to Burrows.

"Without sounding too sentimental it would be what dreams are made of," said the trainer.

"Sheikha Hissa [Sheikh Hamdan's daughter] went to visit Hukum in the international barn and she's very passionate and shows great interest.

Sheikh Hamdan: Owen Burrows is hoping to win with the late owner's HukumCredit: Edward Whitaker

"God willing, he runs well on Saturday, and whatever he does then he will improve massively come the Sheema Classic. It would be beyond words if we could pull it off."

Burrows has long had the Sheema Classic pencilled in for Hukum, a four-time Group 3 winner in Britain who recorded a tearaway success in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot on his last run in October.

Connections had toyed with running in the Hong Kong Vase in December, but resisted that temptation and are hopeful Saturday's run will put him spot on for Dubai World Cup night at Meydan.

"We felt we'd be better off trying to get a prep run into him before World Cup night," said the trainer, who will be saddling his first runner in Dubai.

"He travelled over last Saturday and travelled well."

Hukum will face British challengers Without A Fight, Alignak, Mekong and Island Brave on Saturday, as well as Godolphin's Global Storm and Global Heat, but looks the class act in the race.

Burrows added: "It looks competitive but he's top rated. He took a race or two last year before he got to peak form, so we felt it would be asking a lot to come off the plane the week before running in the Sheema Classic.

Owen Burrows with Shadwell number one jockey Jim CrowleyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's probably going to have to find five or six pounds anyway, hence why we decided to give him a run on Super Saturday and then he will stay in Dubai for three weeks, enjoy the sunshine and it will bring him forward.

"He's a five-year-old now so, touch wood, he'll have a busy year and hopefully this won't be his only overseas trip this year."

On why he has long thought Meydan could be the perfect track for Hukum, the trainer said: "It's got a nice, long straight and you've seen him win the Geoffrey Freer twice at Newbury, and he was impressive in a Group 3 last year at York.

"Meydan is also a big galloping track and he seems to go on better ground, so it was always in my mind that it would suit him. Like I said, he's going to need to find five or six pounds but you've got to be in it to win it."

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