Godolphin gunning for Guineas gold
APPLEBY-TRAINED GOLD TOWN HOPES TO LAY DOWN UAE DERBY MARKER AT CARNIVAL
odolphin’s Gold Town can throw down a convincing marker for next month’s $2-million UAE Derby (G2) by winning today’s UAE 2,000 Guineas, a race that has been a reliable pointer to the richest Derby in the world.
The son of 2002 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry has won his two last starts, in Newmarket, England (Aug 12) and Meydan (Jan 25), in compelling fashion, and will take all the beating in a race that has attracted a field of 15 runners.
Trainer Charlie Appleby will have history on his side as Godolphin have won nine runnings of the contest since it made its debut in 2000 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
Appleby himself savoured Guineas success with Long John in 2014.
Godolphin’s William Buick resumes his association with Gold Town while the stable’s France-based rider, Mickael Barzalona, partners Last Voyage, whose only success came on his debut at Windsor in May last year.
Assessing his par, Appleby told the Godolphin website: “We were impressed with Gold Town’s first appearance on dirt in the trial and I am hopeful that the step-up to a mile will suit. A repeat performance of his last run will see him take all the beating.
“Last Voyage won on his first start and brings a decent level of European form to the table. He should be fine on the dirt based on his pedigree and his preparation has gone well. This is his first try over a mile, which we feel should suit him.”
Godolphin hand
Appleby’s Godolphin workmate, Saeed Bin Surour, who has taken home the trophy on six occasions and most recently with Thunder Snow 12 months ago, is also represented with Racing Country, a runner-up to El Chapo in the second division of the 2,000 Guineas Trial three weeks ago.
“Racing Country was disappointing on the turf last time, but he is back on the dirt now and ran well on the surface in the trial for this race. I think a mile will be right for him and he is in good form,” Bin Surour said.
The field of 15 also includes El Chapo, plus Roland Rocks and Roy Orbison, who were second and third behind Gold Town last time out.
El Chapo won on his first start for Bahraini owner-trainer Fawzi Nass who said: “We thought he would run well. I could not have been happier when he won. Obviously, this is a better race but the extra distance should suit him and we are again hoping he runs well.”
Bin Surour, who has his stable in rude health with 11 wins in six Dubai World Cup Carnival meetings, has strong chances elsewhere on the seven-race card, supported by Al Tayer Motors.
Perhaps the best of these is Best Solution, who can reverse the form on French raider Golden Wood, who benefited from a compelling ride from Christophe Soumillon to win over course and distance on the opening night five weeks ago.
Eight have been declared for the opening card of the night Mazrat Al Ruwayah Sponsored by Jaguar XF with the weights headed by in-form US-based purebred Arabian Paddy’s Day (post 7, Pat Dobbs). The Doug Watson-trained 7-year-old is penalised for his course and of the Carnival distance victory in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on the first night of the carnival and carries between 3-5 kg more than his opponents. He then finished second in R2 over 2200m, a fortnight ago, but should be much happier reverting to 1600m on what will be his third outing for Doug Watson and Dobbs.