Dubai: Led by the exciting Capponi, an emphatic winner of round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge, several UAE-trained horses staked their claims for Dubai World Cup night with noteworthy performances at Super Saturday's dress rehearsal for the mega March 31 meeting at Meydan.
A moderate handicapper when trained by Mark Johnston in the UK, the five-year-old Capponi is proving to be a revelation in a forward thinking Mahmoud Al Zarouni's hands, comfortably winning the Group One race, his third successive victory for the Godolphin handler in the UAE.
His four-length victory over Silver Pond, also trained in the UAE by Doug Watson, has thrown him into the mix for the world's richest race, but has also left Al Zarouni scratching his head as he will now have to weigh up alternative prospects like Opinion Poll and Simon De Montfort in his quest to win a maiden World Cup.
However, there is no denying that Capponi will get his shot at the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) prize 20 days from now, and Ahmad Ajtebi, who was partnering the son of Medicean for the second time, is hopeful he can prove Saturday's win was no flash in the pan.
Big examination
"I always felt that he had something special in him. He's a horse who has a strong gallop and even stronger kick in the finish," said the Emirati rider who was nailing his sixth Group One victory.
"He's done most of his racing in handicaps so Saturday's race was always going to be a big examination for him as he was taking a massive step up in class. But he came out with flying colours and I hope that he has proved himself to be a genuine Group One horse.
"If he runs in the World Cup it will be fantastic, and I would love to ride him. But we have to see how he comes out of the race, and what the plan is."
Runner-up Silver Pond, third-placed Prince Bishop and Monterosso in fourth have also remained in the Dubai World Cup.
Silver Pond, who was making his synthetic debut following his fourth place finish in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on December 11, looks the pick of the chasing pack.
The horse's owner, Saeed Nasser Al Rumaithi, who at the start of the season pencilled in the Dubai World Cup as a principal target for the son of Act One, may also be considering a shot at the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, which has an extra two furlongs that may favour Silver Pond's staying ability. Al Rumaithi narrowly missed winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last year when his Force Free, who raced in the UAE for two seasons between 2009 and 2011, was beaten a neck by Amazombie.
"He's run well in defeat, and may have earned his place in the World Cup, but we'll wait and see what happens in the next couple of days," said the businessman, who has seven horses in the UAE.
Veteran Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour saw another piece in the jigsaw for the World Cup meeting fall into place after African Story marked himself out as a leading contender for the Godolphin Mile (G1) with a storming four-length victory over Snaafy in the Burj Nahaar (G3). The winner clocked 1:35:93 seconds, and narrowly missed breaking the track record.
"What I like about the horse is that he always tried hard," said Bin Surour. "This is his second win at Meydan this year and he keeps improving. We'll now try him in the Godolphin Mile."
Bin Surour also sent out second a second place and two thirds in the Dubai City of Gold, with Cavalryman, Campanologist and Songcraft all staking claims for the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic.
Meanwhile, Al Zarouni found his Dubai Duty Free (G1) performer when City Style, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, finished three quarters of a length behind Master Of Hounds in the Jebel Hatta (G1).