Godolphin stables busy ahead of Dubai World Cup

Dubai: Godolphin’s twin stables at Al Quoz and Marmoom were buzzing with activity yesterday morning (Wed) as several big-race hopefuls from the powerful stable worked in preparation for upcoming engagements at next Saturday’s $27.5m Dubai World Cup meeting.

Although no official timings were made available Godolphin handlers Saeed Bin Surour and Mahmoud Al Zarouni were reportedly pleased with the form of their runners as the countdown to D-Day moved into high gear.

Topping the workouts at Al Quoz Stables was Prince Bishop who is scheduled to run in the $5m Sheema Classic (G1) over 12 furlongs.

The six-year-old son of Dubawi, who finished seventh to Monterosso in last year’s $10m Dubai World Cup (G1), ran a good race to take third place behind stable companion Hunter’s Light on his most recent start in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) on Super Saturday, March 9.

Prince Bishop worked alongside Listed Al Bastakiya scorer Secret Number who is being aimed at the Group 2 $2m UAE Derby.

Another Bin Surour hopeful at work on the Tapeta track was Group 3 UAE Oaks winner Shuruq who takes on the colts for the first time in the Derby over 1900m.

The progressive Darley-bred daughter of Elusive Quality, who beat the Al Zarouni-trained pair of Lovely Pass and Music Chart in the Oaks, breezed over six furlongs under Godolphin jockey Silvestre de Sousa.

Meanwhile, at Godolphin’s Marmoom desert stables, Al Zarouni was putting the finishing touches to his UAE Derby hopeful Now Spun who worked over five furlongs.

Also at work on Marmoom’s dirt gallops were $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) contenders Time Prisoner and Mental who worked in tandem over five furlongs.

$1m Godolphin Mile (G2) hopeful Moonwalk In Paris as the third member of Al Zarouni’s high-profile team of gallopers to stretch his legs under Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi.

An impressive winner of the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes at Meydan on February 14, Moonwalk In Paris is likely to be joined by the Bin Surour pair of Alpha and African Story in the Mile, a race that the Emirati handler has won nine times since Tereshkova triumphed in 1996.

Bin Suroor has won the $5m Dubai Duty Free (G1) four times but not since Rhythm Band stormed to victory on the Nad Al Sheba dirt in 2000.

Aesop’s Fables, winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly in 2012, was put through his paces by Silvestre de Sousa as he bids to reclaim the trophy for his handler.