Dubai: Long serving Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour is hoping that veteran campaigner Cavalryman can give him back-to-back victories in the Group 2 Londsdale Cup at York on Friday.
Bin Surour won the prestigious two-mile event 12 months ago with Ahzeemah and the eight-year-old Cavalryman, who is in the best form of his life, has strong claims of gifting his handler with another victory in the race, which is a prelude to next month’s Doncaster Cup (G1).
Cavalryman faces seven rivals including last year’s Ascot Gold Cup heroine Estimate, multiple Group 2 scorer Former six-time British champion jockey Kieren Fallon, who was on board when Cavalryman won the Goodwood Cup, takes the ride again.
Bin Surour said on the Godolphin website: “Cavalryman is doing well and had a nice blow-out on the gallops the other day.
“He has always shown us his class since the day that he joined us over four years ago and we have a special programme with older horses who we want to keep for a long time designed to keep them happy and sound.
“He is a brilliant horse who is very tough. Some horses improve with age and others do the opposite but with him he has kept on improving, both physically and mentally. He always looks wonderful.
“He wouldn’t want the ground to be too soft on Friday but good or good to soft would be fine.”
Meanwhile John Warren, the Queen’s racing manager is hopeful that Estimate can return to her old form following a string of disappointing performances.
Estimate could only finish last of eight runners in last month’s Goodwood Cup, but Warren believes that the York track will make a bid difference.
“Hopefully she can get back on track. Sir Michael is certainly very happy with her and hopefully we can leave Goodwood behind us,” he told the Sporting Life.
“We’re very positive she will give a good account of herself and hopefully give her true running. The track should certainly suit her much better than Goodwood and, the faster the ground, the better for her, I think.
“Unless there is a torrential downpour and the going changes significantly, I don’t think there will be any excuses.”
Friday’s card at York’s Ebor Festival also features the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, a five-furlong sprint open to horses aged two years or older.
Eddie Lynam’s Sole Power, who won this event in 2010, looks the pick of the 15 runners, which also includes Hot Streak (6/1), Take Cover (13/2) and South African sprinting sensation Shea Shea (7/1).