Dubai: Godolphin, Dubai’s global thoroughbred racing team, is hopeful of riding on the ‘lucky 13’ factor to reap the benefits at Saturday’s 22nd running of the Dubai World Cup.
Founded by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Godolphin’s charge is led by their most successful trainer Saeed Bin Surour with seven runners, while the experienced Charlie Appleby has four while John Gosden and Richard Fahey have one runner apiece.
“Meetings here are very nervous and a very hard game at the same time,” Bin Surour told media at the customary Breakfast with the Stars.
“On this special night it all comes down to the quality of horses, the trainers, the jockeys and the owners. They are all best of the best and to have a winner on the night would is such a great feeling.
“This year we have some good horses and we are looking at better results.
“If you ask me which of them is a sure bet on the night, then I would choose the filly Beautiful Romance. Having said that, we have a chance in every race as we are there to win it,” he added.
William Buick, who has five rides on the night, also exuded confidence.
“We’ve got a good bunch of horses and all of them are capable of doing something on the night, especially Jungle Cat, Ribchester and Jack Hobbs would be the main ones and we are hoping that they do,” Buick said.
Godolphin’s presence on Saturday is strong in the Group 1 races with Ribchester, Jack Hobbs and Move Up headlining the operation.
Ribchester, ridden by William Buick, was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville in France last August, and will now attempt to win over the 1,800 metres of the Dubai Turf.
He will be joined in the race by five-year-old mare Very Special, who is trained by Bin Surour and will be ridden by Silvestre de Sousa.
The horse was a comfortable winner of the Group 2 Cape Verdi over a mile at Meydan in the last week of January.
Another five-year-old making his presence felt for the boys in blue will be Jack Hobbs with Buick once again doing the honours in the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2.400 metres.
The horse, who will be fitted with blinkers for the first time, made quite an impression while winning by five lengths in the Group 1 Irish Derby in 2015.
“I brought Jack Hobbs out this morning on the track and he felt great. It’s a small and select field, but it’s a tough race. He is going into it in good shape and hopefully we can see the best of him. He is a high class horse and yet we have to respect the whole field as well,” Buick said.
“Prize Money has been in amazing form, along the way beating three G1 winners as well. I think the horse will go for width all the time and I can see him doing really good. I would like to see him come up with his promises. I have that confidence in him,” Bin Surour said.
Godolphin also fancy their chances in the 1,200 metres Al Quoz Sprint.
“Our strongest hand is in there with two of our finest runners in Jungle Cat and Baccarat. Jungle Cat won on his last start and of course his profile looks great at the moment. We’ve come here in really good shape,” Appleby said.
Godolphin are three-handed in the Group 2 UAE Derby on dirt with Bin Surour saddling Thunder Snow and Top Score, while Appleby has Fly At Dawn.
“I wasn’t really surprised as we believed all along that one winner will come. He ran really well and we expect him to turn up on Saturday night again,” Bin Surour said of Thunder Snow.
“He [Top Score] takes every challenge in his stride. Since last year he has been working really nicely. I believe in the way he has done it, and physically he has looked nice too.”
“I’ve been very fortunate and I am blessed to be given this opportunity to be on this stage and that too with a fantastic place like Godolphin. We’ve got some great people around us through the years and we’ve got a great team behind me now,” Appleby said.
The lucky 13
Dubai World Cup: Move Up
Dubai Sheema Classic: Jack Hobbs and Prize Money
Dubai Turf: Ribchester and Very Special
Dubai Golden Shaheen: Comicas
Al Quoz Sprint: Baccarat and Jungle Cat
UAE Derby: Fly At Dawn; Thunder Snow and Top Score
Dubai Gold Cup: Beautiful Romance and Famous Kid
