Marienbard hopes to do a Kayf Tara at Ascot

Marienbard will hope to follow in the footsteps of Godolphin's champion stayer Kayf Tara when he contests the gruelling Gold Cup at the Royal Ascot on Thursday.

The Caerleon colt boosted Godolphin's hopes of another success in the two-mile four-furlong race when winning the Yorkshire Cup last month.

Godolphin has won this prestigious stayers‚ event three times in the past five years with Classic Cliche in 1996 and Kayf Tara in 1998 and last year.

"Marienbard is a big strong horse and the way he works and trains suggests that he will stay the distance of the Gold Cup," Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor told Gulf News from Newmarket yesterday. "He's been working very well and in top condition.

"The Gold Cup is a very tough race and it takes a very tough horse, like Kayf Tara was, to win it. Marienbard might not be in that class, but he has plenty of ability," he added.

"He impressed us when winning the Yorkshire Cup and we believe that he is a horse that has a good future. He's done everything we've asked of him during training and he deserves his place in the race on Thursday."

Marienbard was acquired from Michael Jarvis, for whom he finished a noteworthy sixth in the English St. Leger, at the end of last year. In his English debut last month the four-year-old colt performed to expectations when outduelling Samsaam and Eternal Spring to win the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and raise expectations of a repeat in the Ascot plum.

"We wanted to see how good he was and he proved that he was good enough to go for a bigger Group One race after that performance at York," said Suroor.
Frankie pleased

Frankie (Dettori) was pleased with the way he performed and felt that he will run well at Ascot.

"The only question is whether he will get the trip. It's a long race and takes a lot out of a horse. We're hoping that Marienbard, who is improving all the time will stay. But either way he's sure to run a big race."

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's Racing Manager told the Racing Post yesterday: "He isin't a Kayf Tara or a Classic cliche at this stage but let's see how he develops and progresses through the season.

"He has won the Yorkshire Cup and he hasn't done enough to be talked of in the same light as those horses but he's the young pretender and we‚ll see how he‚s able to cope in the Gold Cup," he said adding. "We think he'll stay the trip alright as he's got a touch of class and that touch of class can pull you through even if the trip is too far.

"There's no question of him being ungenuine, the visor is there to keep him focussed."
Marienbard sported a visor for the first time in the Yorkshire Cup and the equipment clearly helped when he first went head-to-head with Samsaam in the final quarter-mile and then helped him take command inside the last to pull five lengths clear of Eternal Spring.

Likely field for the Ascot Gold Cup (2m 4f): Marienbard, San Sebastian, Royal Rebel, Rainbow High, Romantic Affair, Yavana‚s Pace, Hatha Anna, Magna Graecia, Orchestra Stall, Persian Punch, Quality Team, Dalampour and Vicious Circle.