Dubai: Dubai Gold Cup (G3) runner-up Ahzeemah takes on some of Europe’s best stayers as he bids to give Godolphin a sixth victory in the Ascot Gold Cup (G1), the longest race at the Royal meeting which is held over a grueling 4,000m.
Trained by Saeed Bin Surour, the five-year-old son of Dubawi has acquitted himself admirably over marathon distances and has only twice finished out of the frame in 20 career starts.
However, both those efforts came more recently, and his trainer is looking for an improved performance from him in Thursday’s feature race where he faces defending champion Estimate, who represents Queen Elizabeth II, Leading Light, winner of the Queen’s Vase at last year’s Royal meeting and Goodwood cup (G1) scorer Brown Panther who is owned by England football legend Michael Owen.
“We know that he is tough and has the ability,” Bin Surour said. “However, this race is a real test.
“He’s shown that he can stay and has been an ultra-consistent horse. He’s been working well and is in good shape. We hope he runs well.”
Bin Surour saddled Godolphin’s previous winners of the Gold Cup, which included Colour Vision (2012), Papineau (2004), Kayf Tara (2000 & 1998) and Classic Cliché (1996).
Estimate made history 12 months ago when she became the first horse to triumph in the colours of a reigning monarch. Interestingly, the Gold Cup is one of three perpetual trophies presented at Royal Ascot, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and Queen’s Vase.
As passionate a horse owner and breeder as she has been for much of her 60-year reign, the Queen’s manager John Warren revealed that they were not getting carried away with what Estimate achieved last June.
“The Queen never expects anything, that’s why she’s so extraordinary. She’s the best loser you could hope for, she’s a realist. If you’ve owned horses for as long as she has, you’ve been through every hiccup,” he said in the Sportinglife.
“She’s most interested in the reasons, her pleasure is putting the jigsaw together. It’s a jigsaw puzzle in her mind, and she’s looking for the last piece to finish it.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s big race, Warren added: “Sir Michael [Stoute] seems upbeat and confident that she can put up a bold show. If she shows the same form as last year, and as she’s a year older she might improve a pound or two, then hopefully she can be right up there.
“She has been working extremely well and Sir Michael is confident that he has got her ready for the challenge ahead.”
Thursday’s card also features a pair of Group 2 races — the Norfold Stakes over 1000m and the 2400m Ribblesdale Stakes.
