Godolphin juggernaut gaining momentum heading into March racing mania

Dubai: Godolphin, who were at their ruthless best when winning three races at the Carnival on Thursday, look almost certain to maintain their dominance when racing makes a quick return to Meydan tonight (Saturday).

With Super Saturday, the dress rehearsal for this month’s Dubai World Cup meeting round the corner, the Godolphin juggernaut rumbled into top gear as Now Spun and Shuruq posted thumping victories in the Listed Meydan Classic and Group 3 UAE Oaks respectively. Add to that Kassiano’s attention-grabbing six and a half length victory in a competitive 2200m handicap and the stables of Saeed Bin Surour and Mahmoud Al Zarouni look adequately well-oiled to confront the big challenges up front.

Though they have now won 21 races between them at the Carnival the tight schedule of events does not allow much room for celebration, with the crack Emirati duo set to saddle 14 runners at Meydan tonight where the feature race is the Group 2 Zabeel Mile.

Al Zarouni won this contest two years ago with Rileyskeepingfaith and once again appears to holds strong claims with Group 2 Dubai Challenge Stakes scorer Fulbright a leading contender.

Assessing the chances of the four-year-old son of Exceed An Excel, the handler said: “He has run well on both his starts so far and continues in good form at home. He has perhaps not enjoyed a lot of luck so far so hopefully everything can fall into place this time but it is a good contest and that penalty makes the task more difficult obviously.

Three of the eight declared runners have already won at Meydan this year, including Royal Ridge, one of two in the race for Mike De Kock who also saddles Musir, having a second start since an aborted spell at stud. The South African is seeking a fourth win in the race, first run in 2007 and said: “Musir ran really well on his comeback before tiring close home. That was only last week though but we need to get another run into him to get towards peak fitness.

“Royal Ridge is hopefully improving and won on the all-weather last time but the return to turf should be fine. We are hopeful.”

UK raider Trade Storm steps up from handicap company having easily won an 1800m handicap last time, from Thursday’s final race winner Anaerobio. Jamie Spencer again rides for trainer David Simcock who said: “That was a good win last time and the form has been franked so he deserves this step up in class. It is a good race but he is in great form.”

The main support race on the card is the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, one of the newest races on the Carnival card, that has attracted a strong Irish entry led by St. Leger winner Royal Diamond. Trained by Kildare handler Tommy Carmody the seven-year-old son of King’s Best will have the services of big-race jockey Johnny Murtagh who will be taking his seasonal bow at Meydan tonight.

Other Irish hopefuls include the John Oxx-trained Saddler’s Rock, winner of last year’s Group 2 Goodwood Cup, Mick Halford’s Certerach and Chicago who represents jockey-turned-trainer John Patrick Shanahan.

De Kock saddles Star Empire, a recent course and distance winner while Marco Botti runs Jakkalberry who was third in this contest last year before going on to fill the same berth in both the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Melbourne Cup.

Another intesting contest is the Gloria de Campeao handicap, which is run over the same course and distance as the $10m Dubai World Cup.

The weights are headed by the last year’s UAE Derby winner Daddy Long Legs who faces 11 rivals including Godolphin’s impressive last outing winner Con Artist.