Godolphin eyeing more success at Dubai World Cup Carnival

DUBAI: The start of the carnival last week began with an early international winner in Enemy, and Algiers looking a possible Dubai World Cup contender.

And Friday’s action is set to be just as strong, although the featured G2 Al-Rashidiya is very much in the grip of Godolphin, the stable having won it for the last six years.

Godolphin will run four this time and there is no mistaking the credentials of trainer Charlie Appleby’s Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, in particular, while Saeed Bin Suroor runs his G3 Bahrain Trophy first and second, Dubai Future, and Passion and Glory.

It has been a while since an international rider took the race (Luca Cumani’s Presvis in 2011) but that could change if Zagrey brings his A-game. Trained in France by Yann Barberot, the son of Zarak has won four of his nine starts including two Listed races. He will be ridden for the first time by Christophe Soumillon, who has won the race six times.

The best of the dirt action will see a renewal of the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, which has become a bit of a Saudi Derby Trial.

They have to concede weight to the others, but the three South Americans — Loreley, Eye on The Prize, and ES-Unico — will be hard to beat, while Bhupat Seemar also has a strong hand with course winners Royal Dubai, and Morning. The latter has lots of speed and could well find himself in a pace tussle up front with Loreley, although Ricardo Colombo’s charge has more experience and can also stay further. It will be a fascinating race.

Two new races have been named after equine legends Thunder Snow, and Ipi Tombe.

The Thunder Snow Challenge, fittingly over the Dubai World Cup course and distance of 2,000 meters, will have two South Korean runners, King of the Match, and