Dubai: Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour seeks to extend his authority over the $250,000 (Dh918,012) UAE Oaks when he sends out the classy Ihtimal in a bid to win the Group 3 contest for a ninth time on Thursday.
The Emirati handler also won the race 12 months ago with Shuruq and the prospect of him once again going home with the prestigious trophy look distinctly possible.
Ihtimal marked herself as a leading contender for the Oaks, the third Classic of the UAE season which is run over 1,900m on the All-Weather, when she delivered a powerhouse performance under stable jockey Silvestre De Sousa to win the UAE 1,000 Guineas three weeks ago.
On that occasion, she comfortably held off top fillies like Feedyah, Wedding Ring, Magrooma and Oxsana, and should she run her race, will be hard to topple.
“She is a very nice filly,” said the trainer. “Her form in England was very good and she switched that level of performance to the all-weather in the Guineas. Her work since has been good and I think the extra 300m will suit her. She should go very close.”
Bred by Darley in Ireland, Ihtimal is the first foal from winning Dubai Destination mare Eastern Joy. She is being seen as a UAE Derby (March 29) and English 1,000 Guineas (May 4) prospect.
Bin Surour’s previous wins in the UAE Oaks have come courtesy Shuruq, Khawlah, Devotee, Cocoa Beach, Satin Kiss, Danuta, Imperial Gesture and Laoub. Ihtimal’s main rivals in Thursday’s contest appear to be a trio of hopefuls trained by Mike de Kock including Mensoora, who finished runner-up in the UAE Guineas.
De Kock, who won this race in 2010 with Raihana, also saddles Magrooma, the mount of Richard Hughes, and Magroora (Pat Cosgrave).
“Ihtimal has proven European Group form on top of what we saw from her last time and she does look extremely hard to oppose,” De Kock said on his website. “Mensoora is our best, she had no kind of prep before the 1000 Guineas and she’s improved since that run. This is a horse race and anything can happen, but we’ll be surprised if any of our fillies can turn the tables on the Godolphin filly.”
Thursday’s high-quality card also features the $250,000 Zabeel Mile (G2), a race that de Kock would appear to have strong claims with Mushreq, Anaerobio and Gale Force Ten. Mushreq heads the pecking order and can make amends for his narrow defeat to stable companion Mujaarib in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya earlier this month.
De Kock said: “They’re all well, in fighting shape. Mushreq and Gale Force Ten, especially, have good chances. I think Anaerobio may be just out of his depth here with a bit to do, but he has place prospects.”
Earlier in the evening, sprinter Merhee can provide the South African champion handler with an 11th victory in the 2014 Carnival when he runs in a 1,200m handicap on the all-weather together with stable companion Lehaaf. “Merhee likes the course and distance, he was beaten only a length in a similar race in January and with a repeat will have a say in the finish,” De Kock said.
“Lehaaf has not lived up to expectations so far, we’ll be looking for a better run. His best showing in Dubai was on the all-weather and maybe he puts it together back on this surface.”
De Kock also saddles the promising Wednaan in the $125,000 Listed Meydan Classic over 1400m on turf.
