Godolphin trainer SaeedbBin Suroor could capture a record ninth Al Maktoum
Challenge Round II victory Thursday as he saddles four of the 12 declared
runners in the Group 2, $250,000 contest.
The fifth meeting of the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan looks the
best of the year so far with the middle rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge
providing the highlights. Also on the seven-race card is the first classic of
the season, the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas.
Bin Suroor’s runners in the 1900-meter Thoroughbred feature include last
year’s winner, Mendip, who goes to post under Kieren Fallon as he did 12 months
ago. Silvestre de Sousa rides Hunter’s Light on whom he was a Group 1 winner in
Italy last November. William Buick on Alpha, who dead-heated in year’s Grade 1
Travers, and Prince Bishop under Ryan Moore, complete the trainer’s quartet.
“They are four nice horses,” bin Suroor said. “This is the obvious race to
start them in and Mendip has been given a nice break over the summer with this
race in mind as he tries to win it again.
“Prince Bishop has been a bit disappointing when tried in these good races
but conditions are ideal for him. Hunter’s Light has been working well at Al
Quoz and Alpha is improving with each gallop but those two may just need the run
more than the other pair.”
Fellow Godolphin handler Mahmoud Al Zarooni relies on Saint Baudolino, who
will be having his first start for the yard. He was runner-up in last year’s
Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club and was also a Group 2 winner in France when trained
by Andre Fabre.
South African Mike de Kock was in treble form last week and saddles both
Mushreq, one of those winners, and Await the Dawn, who will be having his first
start for the trainer and since Dubai World Cup night last season.
“Mushreq deserved that win last week as things had not gone to plan in his
first two starts,” de Kock explained. “I think he will be fine on the surface
and he deserves this step up in class.
“Await the Dawn is a horse we really like and this has been the first target
to get him back on the track. He works well on the all-weather so should handle
it but he will certainly improve for the run.”
Al Zarooni won the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas last year with Gamilati, who
had previously won the trial race, and the trainer will be hoping Music Chart
can emulate her stable companion having won the trial three weeks ago from the
bin Suroor-trained Shuruq.
It could be that de Kock supplies the main danger in the shape of Emotif,
winner of her only start but forced to miss the trial after a setback.
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