Dubai: Godolphin trainers Saeed Bin Surour and Charlie Appleby made their final pitches for the Dubai World Cup on Thursday, both exuding confidence that their horses will run ‘big races’.
Together they saddle 17 runners across the nine, high-quality races, including four in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, the showpiece event of the night that is run on the Tapeta synthetic surface.
Bin Surour, a five-time winner of the $10 million (Dh36.72 million) contest, relies on African Story and Prince Bishop, while Appleby is hoping Cat O’Mountain and Vancouverite can give him his first taste of victory in the 2000m all-weather race.
Outlining his prospects, Bin Surour appeared to favour Prince Bishop just that little bit and said: “Look, he’s been a real servant to the stable since we got him from France four years ago. He runs his heart out everytime and gives one hundred per cent.
“He’s run in two previous Dubai World Cups [2011 and 2011] and the Sheema Classic [G1] last year. He ran well, but perhaps he just was not good enough then.
“This year it’s a different story. He’s a lot, lot fitter and seems to be enjoying his racing more than ever,” added the Emirati, who is looking for his first Dubai World Cup victory at Meydan — his triumph coming on Electrocutionist on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in 2006.
“Prince Bishop has won two important races, the second and third rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, and won them well. Kieren [Fallon] rode him on both those occasions and he gets on really well with the horse.
“If you ask me, I think he’s in the best form he’s ever been and is in the right race at the right trip. He is ready to go and I like him a lot.”
Bin Surour is also hopeful African Story, another seasoned UAE campaigner, will run his best race on Saturday. “He hit his head coming out of the stalls on his last start, which stopped him from running true to form. He trains on the Tapeta and likes the surface. He was third in Godolphin Mile two years ago and fifth in the Dubai World Cup last year. Physically he’s a much better horse now and believe has a strong chance.”
Appleby might not be a patch on his Godolphin colleague when it comes to experience, but his Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) success last November showed he had the requisite credentials.
“Obviously it will be very special to win the Dubai World Cup, if not a race on the big night,” he said. “I think both of my horses will run big races.”
Meanwhile, Silvestre De Sousa and Mickael Barzalona who will ride in the famous blue first colours of Godolphin, were modestly optimisic of their chances and described the races at being very ‘competitive.’
“African Story was a bit disappointing the way he run last time but he got his excuses,” said De Sousa who is looking for his first success in the World Cup. “But he’s there and when you’re there, you must have great chance.”
Barzalona, who rode Monterosso to win the race in 2012, said he looking forward to the race on Cat O’Mountain.
“He was a bit slow out of the gates on his last start in the Maktoum Challenge, and had to make his run from behind a wall of horses,” said the Frenchman. “He picked up nicely and was running on strong approaching the finish. I was pleased with that, think he’ll run well on Saturday.”
