Cavalryman
Carrying the all-blue silks of Godolphin, Cavalryman is still in great form at age eight. This game and genuine runner has been competing well at the top level since three years old, when he was trained by Andre Fabre in France and finished third behind the outstanding Sea The Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Cavalryman has won eight of his 34 races over the years and he has finished second or third on nine occasions, giving him a solid 50 per cent top three strike rate.
Cavalryman is a reliable performer. When he is in form, he gives his all, as we saw when he beat Star Empire easily by 5½ lengths to capture the Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan four weeks before World Cup night. The moderate early pace clearly suited him better than most but Cavalryman was the best and it was hard to imagine any of those behind him turning the form around — even in a contest with more emphasis on stamina. Cavalryman won the Gold Cup last year, after having finished third in the City Of Gold, and his class makes him a strong favourite to win the staying race back-to-back.
Now We Can
French-trained Now We Can is an intriguing contender for the big staying event on the night. Not just because this will be his first run over such a demanding distance, but probably more so since he, like Cavalryman, has proved himself competitive in high-class races over shorter distances.
He won his prep race in France three weeks ago, when racing over 1,900 metres in the Prix Meydan Hotel at Chantilly, with some household names behind.
Making his first start since finishing fourth in the Canadian International last October, Now We Can came from off the pace to gain a narrow win over Mortga. This performance augurs well for Now We Can’s five-year-old campaign. A winner of six of his ten races to date, his longest winning run came over 2,900 metres in March last year (against easier opposition) and he beat Haya Landa by a head to win the Group 2 event over 2,400 metres in the summer.
Star Empire
Star Empire, another streetwise eight-year-old who knows his way around Meydan quite well, was readily beaten when runner-up to Cavalryman last time out, but he may get closer this time, particularly if we get a stronger pace (which is likely) over this longer distance. Stamina is Star Empire’s strong suit.
A dual winner over the Meydan course in the past, he was second to Excellent Result in a tough handicap in February, and that rival gave the form a huge boost by winning the Dubai City Of Gold on his next start. Excellent Result may have given himself a berth in the Sheema Classic with that win and if he has a shot in the Sheema, then Star Empire must have a chance in the Gold Cup.
