Godolphin seek more Classic glory at Carnival

Dubai: Music Chart and Lovely Pass, eye-catching winners for Godolphin earlier in the season, are set to face-off in Thursday’s UAE Oaks (G3), the feature race of the ninth meeting of the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Music Chart won the Trial for the UAE 1000 Guineas in January but failed to carry that form to the Classic, where she could only muster third place behind Lovely Pass and another Godolphin runner, Shuruq, who is also in the running today.

Both Music Chart and Lovely Pass are trained by Mahmoud Al Zarouni, who won this race last season with Falls Of Lora, at his Marmoom desert stables.

Fellow Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour, an emphatic seven-time winner of the Oaks in 12 runnings, also saddles Mar Mar, who was fourth in the Guineas.

Commenting on the chances of his fillies Al Zarouni said: “They are two nice fillies. They have both come out of the Guineas well and have shown they handle the all-weather. Hopefully they will stay the trip and be very competitive.”

Bin Surour was also hopeful of good runs from his representatives and said: “Shuruq always tries her best and her last piece of work was very good. The step up in trip should suit her and also Mar Mar, who showed a lot more last time.”

With Ahmad Ajtebi and Silvestre De Sousa serving suspensions, Mickael Barzalona has surprisingly opted to ride Music Chart, leaving former six-time British champion Kieren Fallon with a mouth-watering spare ride aboard Lovely Pass.

Meanwhile, Bin Surour has roped in two-time British champion Paul Hanagan to partner Shuruq while James Doyle has been handed the ride aboard Mar Mar.

South African handler Mike De Kock, who won the Oaks in 2010 with Raihana, saddles the lightly-raced Emotif, who he holds in high regard.

“She is still short of full fitness,” said De Kock. “She was a month behind our other horses having been very ill and missing a lot of work. She is fitter now and will stay the trip with no problem, but she will again improve from this run.”

In her only start prior to being shipped to Dubai, the Argentina-bred daughter of Giant’s Causeway impressed immensely when cruising to a 4 1/4-length victory in her maiden at Greyville in South Africa last May. She will be partnered by French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon.

No British hopeful has ever won the Oaks but Ireland’s Patrick Shanahan will rewrite the record books should My Special J’s reproduce her Irish Group 2 Keeneland Debutante winning form on her third start at Medyan.

The daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, who was seventh in the Guineas,. will be ridden by the in-form Richard Mullen, who replaces Tadhg O’Shea in the saddle.

Mark Johnston’s English stakes winner Pure Excellence takes her chance despite two disappointing efforts in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, together with French stakes winner More Than Sotka, who has a best-place fifth effort to show.

David Simcock, the only international trainer to saddle two winners at the Carnival this season, saddles Guineas 10th Go Angellica, the mount of Dane O’Neill.