Midshipman fancied to make it plain sailing for Godolphin

Dubai The highly fancied Midshipman and Godolphin stablemate My Indy, the defending champion, make it a difficult task for the remaining 14 runners led by Gloria De Campeao in today's Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 1) at the Meydan Racecourse.

Midshipman, one of the leading juveniles in 2008 who missed last year's Carnival due to an injury, finished third, but by less than a length, in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Pro Ride at Santa Anita on November 7.

The four-year-old colt not only makes his debut in the UAE but will also make his first run on the Tapeta surface, and Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour said Midshipman will not have any problem.

"Midshipman is in good form and he looks a much better horse in terms of condition compared to last season physically he appears to be a different horse," he told the Godolphin website this week.

"He has some very good form on Pro Ride and Polytrack in America and the Tapeta surface is very similar. He has been working well but I think he will improve on whatever he does on Thursday," Bin Surour said.

Popular runner

With Lanfranco Dettori choosing Midshipman, Ted Durcan will be on My Indy, the five-year-old son of Indygo Shiner, who is a popular runner here in Dubai after wins in this race and the Second Round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and a fifth-placed finish to Well Armed in the Dubai World Cup.

"We gave him [My Indy] a break in the summer and he looks in really good form at the moment. He has been working really well. I am very pleased with his condition and I am really happy with him," said Bin Surour.

"He has been working on the Tapeta and seems to handle the surface. The mile distance will suit him and I am hoping for a big run," he said.

Hoping to spoil Godolphin's party in the first Group race for thoroughbreds in this year's Dubai International Racing Carnival are Gloria De Campeao, Tam Lin, Premio Loco and Hunting Tower.

Pascal Barry's Gloria De Campeao was fourth to My Indy in the Maktoum Challenge but went on to score over Mike de Kock's Art Of War and then finished a brave second in the Dubai World Cup.

The Brazilian horse has since then won the Singapore Airlines (Group 1) in Singapore and placed seventh in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1).

Good company

Chris Wall's Premio Loco is a Group 2 winner in Germany and Tam Lin, a former Godolphin horse, is now trained by Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya and has run in good company while Mike de Kock's Hunting Tower, more of a turf specialist, is a multiple Group 1 winner.

A few other classy runners complete the field but barring an upset it looks like Godolphin will capture their eighth win in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (Group 3) for thoroughbreds.