Trainer hopes Haatheq delivers in Godolphin Mile

Dubai: Three-time UAE champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe believes that Godolphin Mile (G2) runner Haatheq could develop into a Dubai World Cup hope next season.

“Haatheq is reliable and he is simply such a good horse at the moment. We expect him to stay this way for some time. And if he does stay sound then I don’t see why he cannot be our horse in the main race at the Dubai World Cup by next year,” Al Raihe told Gulf News on Tuesday.

“It is every trainer’s dream to have a horse in the Dubai World Cup and Haatheq is by far our best bet for the main race, at least we hope by next year.”

Al Raihe’s Grandstand Stables has three runners on Dubai World Cup night — Haatheq and Mufarrh in the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Godolphin Mile and Tamaathul in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).

“We are here to win both the races and this is the reason why we have entered three horses,” Al Raihe said.

On New Year’s Day in 2011, Haatheq stormed to victory in the 1800m Jebel Ali Stakes Prep, and since then the horse has shown a lot of maturity, with Paul Hanagan giving him a superb ride to win the 1600m Shadwell Conditions event at the end of last year, followed by another win in January this year at the same Jebel Ali course.

Hanagan was again in the saddle when Mufarrh won a one-mile handicap ahead of Banna Boirche and Disa Leader in February this year, while Tamaathul was at his best in the second half of December with jockey Royston Ffrench on board.

“It’s always been our dream to be on the big stage at the main race on World Cup night. Each year we have tried our best to be there. We’ve been fighting for at least one spot,” Al Raihe said.

“Now we are convinced Haatheq can do it for us. But unfortunately his rating is not good enough for him to be in the main race this year.”

The trainer also predicted that Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light should justify his short odds and win Saturday’s Dubai World Cup. “When looking at the main race, one has to consider the horse’s performance on the tapeta. All the odds are in favour of Hunter’s Light. He will be the one to beat,” Al Raihe said.