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19 March 2024

Godolphin trainers realistic about chances

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By Staff

Godolphin's two trainers Saeed bin Surour and Mahmoud Al Zarooni agreed the Group 1 $10 million Dubai World Cup was a wide open race but were realistic about their chances.

Bin Suroor's Dubai World Cup hopes rest with Mendip and Prince Bishop while Al Zarooni is represented by Capponi and Monterosso.

Discussing some of their Saturday prospects at a press conference following Thursday morning's Breakfast With The Stars at Meydan, they were optimistic of a good result despite their horses being drawn wide.

However, that largely depended on the quartet raising the bar if they were to make a serious challenge for the jackpot.

Bin Surour, who last won the Dubai World Cup in 2006 with Electrocutionist, one of his five triumphs in eight years said the race has become tougher.
 
"Let's be honest, the Dubai World Cup attracts the best horses in the world. You only have to look at this year's field to understand what I'm getting at," he said.
 
"Every one of these horses can win it on his day. But having said that I am confident that if Prince Bishop and Mendip can raise their game they will have a big chance, as they have had the advantage of racing on the surface, which some of the other horses don't have."
 
He disappointed when 10th in the 2011 Dubai World Cup but has won two of his last four races. His final outing of 2011 resulted in a Listed race success on polytrack at Kempton Park, UK, and he was also successful in a 2,000m handicap on the all-weather at Meydan on January 20. His most recent outing came in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III when he stayed on in third.

“Prince Bishop has done well in Dubai through the winter but this is a bigger test. We hope he can run a good race in the Dubai World Cup but he needs to show more than he has done so far to be competitive,” said Bin Surour of Frankie Dettori's mount.

Mendip has done all bar one of his 10 runs on the all-weather surface at Meydan where the most recent of his six successes came in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round II  in February 9.

“Mendip won the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge which was good to see. We felt there might have been an excuse last time in the final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge because he banged himself coming out of the starting gates. Kieren Fallon, who rode him that day, said he was never travelling afterwards. Mendip seems in very good order but he needs to improve to have a realistic chance,” said Bin Surour of Mendip who will be ridden by Godolphin's new recruit Silvestre de Sousa for the first time.

"There are a lot of good horses," said Al Zarooni, "and anyone can win it. Monterosso was third in the race last year, and has just had the one run since, when he was fourth on his seasonal re-appearance. He needed that run and will strip fitter this time around. He will be helped by a fast pace, and Mickael Barzalona will again have the ride. Capponi has done nothing but improve, and he will be ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, who rides well from the front."

"They are both in good form, but both have wide draws," said the trainer.

Capponi won the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III by four lengths after being ridden boldly by Emirati jockey Ahmed Ajtebi, who chased the pack before going for home in the straight, Capponi won decisively by four lengths.

“Capponi has done remarkably well throughout the Carnival, showing great improvement. His last run was excellent and he just loves the all-weather surface. Ahmed has built up a good rapport with the horse and gets on very well with him,” he added.

Monterosso finished a close third in the 2011 Dubai World Cup but has raced only once since on March 10 in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round III over the same course and distance when he finished a promising fourth.

Al Zarooni said: “Monterosso needed his first race of 2012 but ran well - he has improved for that outing. He will be a lot sharper in the Dubai World Cup and did very well in the race last year. He was off for a long time afterwards but seems back in the same sort of form.”

However, Al Zarooni believes that his best chance of success might come in the Group 3 $1 million Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors with Opinion Poll, the mount of Dettori.

Despite finishing second to Fox Hunt on his only start of the season in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, Opinion Poll is fancied by his trainer to turn that form around when the two horses re-oppose on Saturday.

"Opinion Poll needed the run, and has come on for it. He's fitter now, and I think he represents our best chance," said Al Zarooni.

Bin Surour nominated African Story in the Group 2 $1 million Godolphin Mile as his best chance on the night.

The mount of Dettori, African Story has won two of his three starts this season at Meydan, including the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over course and distance on his last start.

Soul, whom Bin Surour trains for the Group 1 $2 Million Dubai Golden Shaheen was also the subject of good reports from his trainer. The ex-Australian sprinter has won his only start at Meydan this season.

"He has plenty of speed and the distance should suit him. That is why we went for this race (rather than the Al Quoz Sprint over 1,000m)."

In the Group 1 $5 million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, bin Surour spoke of Delegator as an "interesting" runner.

"He was second to Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas, and is a Group 2 winner over (1,200m). It will be a test for him to stay this extra distance, but I think he will, and he has a good turn of foot."