By Jeff Lowe

Champion turf male Miesque’s Approval will proceed to the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 31 at Nad al Sheba racecourse after finishing fifth in the Canadian Turf Handicap (G3) on February 3 at Gulfstream Park.

Miesque’s Approval finished 2 ¾ lengths behind longshot Giant Wrecker as the 4-to-5 favorite in the Canadian Turf, his first race since winning the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on November 4.

“He’s definitely going to Dubai,” said John Rasmussen, general manager of owner-breeder Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Stud. “I think he got a lot of the rust knocked off [in the Canadian Turf]. He didn’t run for three months, so I think there was a lot of rust and maybe some refocusing. I think he got something out of it and needed that race.”

Rasmussen would not comment on a pending sale of Miesque’s Approval, although he did say that the eight-year-old by Miesque’s Son would be racing for Live Oak in the Dubai Duty Free.

Trained by Marty Wolfson, Miesque’s Approval has won 12 of 40 career starts and earned $2,648,879.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer