Godolphin ready to play role of party-poopers

LONDON: It is a hard task trying to paint Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s Godolphin racing operation as an underdog, but it would be a huge surprise were his two runners to cause unpopular upsets in Britain and Australia today.

This is the sort of stage that Godolphin was designed for — runners in the top races around the world on the same day, and Charlie Appleby, one of Godolphin’s two Newmarket-based trainers, is ready to fire off a salvo at the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia this morning and the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in England.

Godolphin’s Folkswood has the unenviable job of trying to prevent the great Australian mare Winx from becoming the first horse since Kingston Town in the 1980s to post a third win in Australia’s premier weight-for-age race. Should Winx succeed, it will be her 22nd consecutive victory and her 15th Group 1 triumph.

Eight hours later Appleby’s onceraced Loxley will be one of several highly-promising juvenile colts standing in the way of Aidan O’Brien’s four runners, any one of whom could propel the Irish trainer to 26 Group 1 wins for the season and past the record he currently shares with the late Bobby Frankel.

Perhaps potential party-poopers might be a more accurate description for Godolphin today.

It is almost impossible to quantify the depth of affection Australians have for Winx, but Appleby is happy to at least try to spoil the mood down under.

“It is a big challenge to be coming up against Winx, but Folkswood is an improving young horse, who deserves his chance to be running in a race such as the Cox Plate,” Appleby told reporters.

Folkswood arguably posted his best ever effort two weeks ago when he cruised beautifully into contention before he won the Listed Cranbourne Handicap at Cranbourne racecourse in Australia. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy believes that Folkswood is in the best shape he can be for what looks a tough task.

“It’s the Cox Plate, so we’re going to go out there to do our best,” he said.

“Anything can happen in a horse race, but on paper, Folkswood will have to run a personal best to get anywhere near Winx.

“But he gives every indication that he is ready to produce his best, and that’s as much as we can ask.”

Folkswood is without a Group 1 win in 13 starts, whereas Loxley still has the opportunity to develop from an acorn in to a mighty oak.

The son of New Approach, Princess Haya of Jordan’s English Derby winner, put up an inexperienced display at Goodwood a fortnight ago. He missed the break under today’s rider William Buick and had his nose in front before and after the line but has to settle for a dead-heat.

Godolphin have had to pay up to supplement him, and Appleby has resisted a trip to Australia in order to saddle him personally.

Appleby did not sound totally convinced, however, when asked about Loxley’s chances.

“Loxley learned a lot at Goodwood and has come on for that run,” he said.

“A drop back to a mile is not a concern and he has ticked every box going into this race, so we felt that he deserved a chance at this level before the end of the season.”

O’Brien fields the English Derby favorite Saxon Warrior, but also relies on dual winner The Pentagon, the Dewhurst Stakes third Seahenge and outsider Coat Of Arms in a bid for his eighth win in the mile contest.

Dangers come from all sides from Loxley’s 11 rivals but Jim Bolger’s Verbal Dexterity, who thrashed Breeders’ Cup hope Beckford last time in the Group One National Stakes in Ireland, looks a serious prospect.