Dubai: Emirati jockey Ahmad Ajtebi has nominated Godolphin Mile contender Moonwalk In Paris as his best chance of a winner at Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting.
The former French-trained gelding, who is currently trained by Godolphin handler at the Marmoom desert stables, won the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes over the course and distance prior to finishing third to African Story in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, the prep race for the $1 million Mile on the Tapeta.
African Story, who was a resounding four-length winner of the Mile last season, takes his chance in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, for which he is a 8/1 fourth favourite with leading British bookmakers.
Ajtebi, who has ridden Moonwalk In Paris in both his outings at Meydan, told Gulf News: “Now that African Story is out of the race, I think my horse has a big chance.
“I admit there are some nice horses in the race, but I would like to believe that he has it in him to win,” the jockey who is looking for a second success in the Godolphin Mile following Calming Influence’s victory in 2010.
Ajtebi, 31, has three other rides on Saturday, including one aboard 12/1 shot Capponi in the Dubai World Cup. Twelve months ago the Darley-bred son of Medicean chased Monterosso home in the 2000m contest but has not visited a racecourse since. “It’s been a long time, so I think he might be in need of a race,” said Ajtebi, who ride him during work at Marmoom. “His work has generally been good, but you can’t really tell if he is one-hundred percent ready until he gets to the race. Obviously with the long break he’s hard there are some hard questions he will have to answer.
“But one thing we know for sure is that he handles the Tapeta and has the class.
“This year’s Dubai World Cup is a lot stronger than last year’s race, with the credentials that the American horses have, and then of course there’s Hunter’s Light, who has progressed very well this season,” he added. “However, anything can happen in a race, and all 13 of them must surely have a chance.”
Ajtebi also rides Godolphin’s Fulbright, a smart son of Australian sprinter Exceed And Excel, in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1), one of two races that he won in sensational fashion during the 2009 Dubai World Cup meeting, the other being the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on the same card.
But he admits, that it is the Dubai World Cup that he still covets.
“I have dreamt of winning the race so many times,” he said. “It’s a recurring dream, and I known it will never go away until it happens. I hope it will, one day.”
