Dubai : Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour is seeking some reassurance from past results as he bids to win his first Emirates Airlines Melbourne Cup (Group 1) at Victoria's famed Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday.
Bin Surour has saddled the runner-up to Australia's most famous horse race three times in the past and most recently when outsider Crime Scene finished a commendable three-quarter length second to Shocking in the 3,200 metre contest 12 months ago.
This time, he is represented by his globetrotting star Campanologist and the UAE-bred Holberg who will be making a big step up in class when he runs in horse racing's premier league for the first time.
The Melbourne Cup, often referred to as the ‘race that stops the nation' is celebrating its 150th Anniversary and Bin Surour would undeniably like to win the lucrative A$6 million (Dh21.68 million) prize in its landmark year.
And Bin Surour is relying on Godolphin's record in the race, and in particular Crime Scene's performance, to help motive his team.
"I'm not really thinking if he's $51 or he's the favourite. I'll leave that to you [media] to decide, but last year I told everyone Crime Scene would run a huge race," he told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday. "I told you before the race that he would have a good chance."
Bin Surour went on to describe Campanologist as ‘the best horse ever from Godolphin to travel to Melbourne.
"I'm happy with Campanologist. He's travelled well and he's a dual Group 1 winner this year and he ran well at his last start," Bin Suroor said. "His condition is much better than the others.
"I think the trip will be fine for him. Holberg has the weight in his favour. He has a nice weight and Frankie [Dettori] likes him."
Meanwhile, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who founded the Godolphin stable with a vision to win major international races like the Melbourne Cup, arrived in Australia yesterday and attended the opening day of Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Shaikh Mohammad was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group.
— With inputs from WAM
