Dubai: Godolphin’s Golden Town, a smart maiden winner at York last season, has been handed the chance to shine when he contests the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
A Darley homebred by Invincible Spirit, Golden Town squares off again several highly-regarded rivals who will be looking to press home their Classic claims in this key trial for the English 2,000 Guineas (May 3, Newmarket).
Godolphin’s Be Ready, who also held an entry for the seven-furlong contest, has been instead diverted to the European Free Handicap at Newmarket next Wednesday.
Golden Town will be ridden the stable’s retained rider Silvestre De Sousa for Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour. The pair have a lot to look forward to this season, having teamed up to win the $10 million (Dh36.73 million) Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in March.
John Gosden’s Kingman, third favourite in the ante-post markets for the Guineas, looks to have strong claims in this event, which was famously won by Frankel in 2011 en route to victory in the colt’s Classic three weeks later.
“It’s nice to get him back. He’s wintered very well. He’s had a very straight forward preparation and everything has gone according to plan,” Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said in the Sportinglife.
“He’s pleased in his work and whatever he does tomorrow, I’d hope he’d do a great deal better. I’m sure he’ll come on a good deal for it. It will definitely give us a pointer as to where we are with him.”
Abdullah’s retained rider James Doyle was also oozing confidence.
“I sat on him last week. I was really pleased with him. He did a nice, routine piece of work. I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s moving good,” the jockey told At The Races.
“I think the prep is needed to get more experience into him. He’s lightly-raced. It wasn’t a big field at Sandown and I wasn’t able to teach him.”
Night Of Thunder, who is owned by Dubai businessman Saeed Manada, will also bid to books his ticket to Newmarket’s showpiece event next month.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt looked a progressive type in both his starts which he won convincingly and should be a major player on Saturday.
He also holds a lot of promise for the stable who are also looking to the 2,000 Guineas, Dante Stakes (G2, May 15) and Epsom Derby (G1, June 7).
Paul Cole’s Berkshire, winner of the Listed Chesham and Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes in his first season, is another with genuine claims along with Kevin Ryan’s Gimcrack victory Astaire and Marco Botti’s Lat Hawill, who was an eight-length winner of his maiden at Newcastle last October.
Meanwhile, Dubai Duty Free will sponsor four races on the card including the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, which is a trial for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes and the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap.
In addition, Al Basti Equiworld, popular sponsors of the Best Turned Out Horse at Meydan during the season, lend their name to a Maiden Stakes race.
