Sport | Horse Racing
Best is yet to come
Al Zarouni sends a direct message to Gamilati's rivals after Mohammad watches her romp home in the UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan course
- By Leslie Wilson JrRacing & Special Features Writer
- Published: 00:00 February 4, 2012
- Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
- Shaikh Mohammad pats Gamilati in the winner’s enclosure at Meydan Racecourse after the filly stormed to victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas. The filly had caught the eye of Shaikh Mohammad at Godolphin’s Moulton Paddocks training establishment in Newmarket in May last year when he singled her out of Godolphin’s team of juveniles. Shaikh Mohammad’s ability to spot talent among his thoroughbred racehorses was proven correct once again.
Dubai: Godolphin handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni has sent a daunting message to Gamilati's rivals by predicting that his star filly, who ran out a compelling winner of the UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse yesterday afternoon, has yet to show her best.
The Darley-bred daughter of Bernadini was given a peach of a ride by Frankie Dettori to smoothly dispose of her six challengers and win the 1,600-metre all-weather contest by five and a half lengths. So convincing was her performance that English bookmakers responded quickly by cutting her odds for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May to 16/1 (from 33).
Gamilati was given a rousing welcome to the Meydan winner's enclosure by Godolphin founder His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, his son Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and an appreciative crowd of over 5,000.
‘Touch of class'
Shaikh Mohammad, who singled out Gamilati for greater glory when she was only a two-year-old, was at Meydan to watch his leading light destroy her rivals which included two Group Three winners — South Africa's Moon Spun and champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Oh So Sharp Stakes conqueror Alsindi.
"She is a very nice filly with a touch of class and that was a very good performance," Shaikh Mohammed said. "We have lots of options with her now where the UAE Oaks is under definite consideration and perhaps then the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot or maybe the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket."
"We will keep everything open to this filly."
Al Zarouni echoed Shaikh Mohammad's sentiments.
"To be honest, the door is open, there are many options for this filly, we have to sit with Simon [Crisford] and discuss it and then decide where to go," he said.
"I think she can go further, it will not be a problem. The filly is improving every race, and that's good. I think he best is yet to come.
"She's by Bernadini and [horses] by Bernadini are doing very good. So I think the ability is there," he added.
"Frankie did a brilliant job with her, the way he rode her today was brilliant, he knows how to deal with the fillies, I don't think there is any other jockey who can do the same with this filly."
Dettori, who was winning his third 1000 Guineas after Satin Kiss (2005) and Catstar (2004) said: "I was obviously very hopeful but I did not expect that — I was swinging off her turning for home and she picked up very well indeed off a steady pace.
"She settled much better today and she showed what a turn of foot she has."
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