Dubai: Star Godolphin filly Ihtimal will chase a third Classic success of the season when she lines up to contest the Qipco 1,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket on Sunday.
The daughter of Shamardal, winner of the French 2,000 Guineas and Derby, is among an all-star field in the £400,000 (Dh2.47 million) showpiece, where she is joined by another Godolphin hopeful, Majeyda.
Ihtimal is trained by Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour at the Godolphin Stables in Newmarket, England, while Majeyda races out of Charlie Appleby’s yard at neighbouring Moulton Paddocks stables.
Bin Surour is looking to win his third 1,000 Guineas and first since Kazzia triumphed in 2002. His maiden success in the ‘fillies only’ race, which dates back to 1814, came in 1998 with Cape Verdi.
Ihtimal was one of the stars of the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival, where she won both the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas and the Group 3 UAE Oaks on the Tapeta at Meydan.
Bin Surour was looking forward to seeing how she fared on her British bow this season and said: “She has absolutely thrived in Dubai, where she won both her starts and won them well, particularly the Oaks, which she won by 10 lengths.
“She is a filly with a huge turn of foot as she showed in both those races, so the drop back in trip to a mile should not pose any problems. She has travelled well from the UAE and has settled in well.
“Obviously she will have benefitted from the break since her last start and has improved physically since then. We are really looking forward to see how she fares on Sunday.”
Majeyda also appears to hold genuine claims, having run a big race to finish half a length behind Sandiva in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket four weeks ago.
Besides the Godolphin duo, three other horses with Dubai connections figure prominently in the card.
John Gosden, who won the Guineas in 2000 with Lahan, saddles smart Lingfield scorer Betimes for Princess Haya Bint Hussain, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while Clive Brittain sends out ante-post favourite Rizeena for Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.
Dubai businessman Saif Ali is represented by the Rabbah Bloodstock-managed Lamar, who was a noteworthy fourth in the Nell Gwyn.
Sunday’s opposition provides a tough test for the Dubai aspirants and in particular from the progressive John Oxx-trained My Titania, George Margarson’s dual Group winner Lucky Kristale and Andre Fabre’s gaelic raider Miss France.
