Godolphin eyeing French success
Stable to have representatives in both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Longchamp
Dubai: Godolphin turn their attention to Sunday’s French Classics at Longchamp where they hold strong entries in both the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2,000 Guineas) and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1,000 Guineas).
Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour saddles Tawhid in the Poulains while French handler Andre Farbe is represented by three-race winner Tasaday in the Pouliches on the same card.
Bin Surour is bidding for a third success in the colt’s Classic having previously won the prestigious event with Bachir (2000) and Vettori (1995).
Godolphin are seeking a first victories in the Pouliches, although Fabre has been successful on three occasions himself with Golden Lilal (2011), Musical Chimes (2003) and Houseproud (1990).
Tawhid, a son of Invincible Spirit, needs a lot to find on recent form where he finished last of four behind Toronado in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket last month.
Following that outing Bin Surour said: “He needed the race and really wants some cut in the ground.”
Meanwhile, Chester stages a trial for next month’s Epsom Derby when it stages the Group 3 Chester Vase over 2,400m.
Only five go to post in the race with Aidan O’Brien’s Curragh maiden winner Rule Of The World looking the one they will all have to beat.
The Ballydoyle handler has saddled three of the last six winners of the race including Soldier Of Fortune (2007), Golden Sword (2009) and Treasure Beach (2011).
A son of Galileo, Rule Of The World, is a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade.
The last horse to contest the Vase and achieve success at Epsom was Quest for Fame, who finished runner-up at Chester before he went one better in the Derby.
The last participant to win the Derby was Quest for Fame, the runner-up in 1990.
The final trial at the Chester May meeting is Friday’s Dee Stakes, a race that has served as a useful test for the Epsom Derby. The last horse to win both races was the Saeed Suhail-owned Kris Kin in 2003.
Richard Hannon, who won the 1,000 Guineas with Sky Lantern, is represented by the top-rated Havana Gold, who won four times last season.
The Group 3 contest has also attracted the Ed Dunlop-trained Contributer, an impressive winner of the Dubai Duty Free Gold Cup Conditions event at Newbury last month.
On Saturday, Lingfield stages two Classic trials — the Betfred-sponsored Derby and Oaks trials, which are both Listed races.
Luca Cumani saddles Greatwood, who was narrowly beaten at Newmarket last month while Ralph Beckett, who won the Oaks Trial in 2007 with Kayah, is represented by Secret Gesture.
Battle Of Marengo is the big name among six Aidan O’Brien-trained entries for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial has attracted 17 contenders, including the Dermot Weld-trained Rawaaq who is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
