Dubai: Several UAE Classic hopefuls put their credentials to the test at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday with Dubai World Cup Carnival titans Godolphin and Mike de Kock well represented in the trials for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas respectively.
Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour, who has saddled four of Godolphin’s six winners of the colt’s Classic since it was first run in 2000, is represented by Emirates Flyer, while fellow Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby is two-handed with a three-time Newmarket-scorer Safety Check and the highly regarded Figure Of Speech, a forward Darley homebred by Invincible Spirit.
A son of Acclamation, Emirates Flyer won twice in six starts last season, but perhaps his best effort came when he finished runner-up to the John Gosden-trained Kingman in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown in August. Kingsman is the current market leader for this year’s English 2000 Guineas,
Bin Surour reports that Emirates Flyer, who will be ridden by in-form Brazilian jockey Silvestre de Sousa in Thursday’s trial, has been training well and should run a big race.
De Kock, who has won the colt’s feature five times, most recently with Soft Falling Rain in 2013, runs two impressive southern hemisphere colts, Full Combat and Journeyman.
The trainer said: “Full Combat is a real hard-knocker and we think he’ll stay nine to ten furlongs.
“Journeyman is probably only going to be ready in time for 2,000 Guineas, but we are hoping to have him ready earlier.”
Godolphin have dominated the 1,000 Guineas with nine wins since 2001 and Appleby can continue that trend when he saddles Wedding Ring, who ended her juvenile season, with two close but impressive wins.
De Kock sends out Magroora and Magrooma, whom he says ‘have equal options on the Tapeta or turf’.
“If they progress on the Tapeta, we’ll see them there. I’ve been very happy with all of them so far.”
Magroora and Magrooma are both by Dubawi, whose progeny include Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.
