Godolphin trio look to give bin Suroor fourth Nad Al Sheba Trophy

Godolphin trio look to give bin Suroor fourth Nad Al Sheba
Trophy

Cavalryman was Saeed bin Suroor’s latest winner of the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) The Nad Al Sheba Trophy (UAE-G3) is the highlight of Meydan Racecourse’s ninth and penultimate meeting of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival with just Super Saturday to follow next week and then the $30 million Dubai World Cup fixture itself on Saturday, March 28. The Nad Al Sheba Trophy was first contested in 2010 and has only ever been won by Godolphin trainers. Eleven have been declared for the 2810 meter turf feature, including the last two winners, Ahzeemah (Dubawi), who won in 2013, and Cavalryman (Halling), who landed the spoils 12 months ago. Both are trained by Saeed bin Suroor and are joined by stablemate and Group 2 victor Excellent Result (Shamardal). Seeking a fourth win in the race, bin Suroor clearly has a very strong hand this year. With stable jockey, James Doyle, in action for Godolphin in Australia, William Buick takes the mount on Cavalryman. Dane O’Neill rides Excellent Result while Harry Bentley, fresh from nine winners in Qatar this week, aboard Ahzeemah. “All three are fit and well,” bin Suroor said. “They have all won over course and distance and both Cavalryman, last year, and Ahzeemah have won this race before. Ahzeemah and Excellent Result have the benefit of a run already this season and have been working well since those runs. “Cavalryman had a busy campaign last year, winning well at Newmarket and Glorious Goodwood. It was always the plan to wait for this race for his return to action but he runs well fresh as he showed when winning this on his seasonal debut 12 months ago. “All three should run well and it is a race we are really looking forward to.” Mike de Kock is two handed with Star Empire (Second Empire), under Christophe Soumillon, joined in the field by Almoonqith (Dynaformer), with Paul Hanagan riding for his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Soumillon’s mount is actually running in the race for a fourth time, having
chased home Cavalryman last year and finishing third in both 2011 and 2013 after
missing the whole of 2012.
Almoonqith is stepping up markedly in trip having won going 1600 meters three starts
ago and running well over 2000 meters the last two times.

“We think Almoonqith will stay the trip,” de Kock remarked. “There is every
encouragement he will in his pedigree and his style of racing. We are looking
forward to trying him over this kind of distance and certainly hope he can make
the first four.

“Star Empire has not been in the same kind of form as his previous Dubai
World Cup Carnival campaigns and his age is probably starting to catch up with
him.”

Trained by Doug Watson, Meandre (Slickly) is a fascinating contender having proven his
stamina for this kind of trip when third in a handicap over this course and
distance at the beginning of the month.
A four-time Group 1 winner in Europe, the seven-year-old obviously has a touch of class and could be the
one to benefit should the Godolphin trio fail to fire.

The remainder of the card consists of six ultra competitive handicaps and a lot
of attention is sure to be focused on local debutant Footbridge (Street Cry), having his
first start for Charlie Appleby.
Previously trained in the United States by Eoin Harty, the five-year-old bay was third in last year’s Awesome Again S.
(G1) before finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Footbridge has his first start for Appleby in a 2000 meter handicap with Buick in the saddle.

Uruguayan raider High Blade (Salute the Sarge) is another interesting newcomer to the UAE and
faces 12 rivals in a 1400 meter dirt handicap. Winner of his first five career
starts, his only defeat was a when fourth against Group 1 company suffered in
his final start in Uruguay.

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