Lateen Sails catches Guineas winds

Lateen Sails took a giant step towards next month's 2,000 Guineas with a solid display in the main Godolphin trial for colts at Nad Al Sheba yesterday evening.

The former Henry Cecil colt was ridden by Frankie Dettori in a smart workout over eight furlongs, which he won by one and three quarters of a length from Derby hopeful Graikos, with Country Reel, one and a quarter length back in third.

Godolphin conducted three trial races, two for colts and one for fillies, all run over eight furlongs. Top jockeys like Dettori, Richard Hills, Jamie Spencer, Johnny Murtagh, Willie Supple and Richard Mullen participated in the exercise which helps Godolphin select an elite team of horse to contest season's major international races.

Alajwad won the day's first trial which featured ten runners, while the highly regarded Hi Dubai, a sister to Fantastic Light, won a productive fillies trial that further underlined Godolphin's strength on the distaff side.

After the trials Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor spoke to the press and outlined some of the stable's plans.

"Latten Sails was impressive today and he's improving all the time. He'll be an even better horse in the future," he said. "No final decision has been taken but it's possible that he will be our main hope for the 2,000 Guineas."

Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said on the stable's website: "Graikos looks like a nice middle distance horse for the summer and we will be looking for a Dante run for him. Country Reel will drop back to six furlongs while New South Wales ran well and showed plenty of promise. But obviously he needs to improve a fair bit from what we have seen so far to be a realistic contender for the Derby."

Lateen Sails and New South Wales, who won a Group 3 for John Oxx in Ireland, hold prominent positions in the Derby market.

Lateen Sails looked like he will benefit from the experience as he ran on strongly from the back of the nine-horse field to take the lead inside the final furlong and win in a time of one minute 38.17 seconds.

Both Suroor and Crisford were clearly excited about the prospect's of their fillies following Hi Dubai's performance in the final trial.

The daughter of Rahy was in her element as she relished the challenge thrown down by stable companion Gonfilia and put in a tenacious effort for Dettori to win by a nose in a smart time of 1:37.79.

Gonfilia, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, took the lead but was headed by Hi Dubai at the two furlong pole and the two raced stride for stride as Echoes In Eternity, who was purchased from Robert Sangster following her Newmarket maiden win in September, ran on strongly for third place.

Crisford commented: "We are delighted with Hi Dubai. She is in the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks and obviously we are hoping that she will develop into a Guineas contender.

"Right now she is still a maiden but that has not stopped us before and she belongs in high-class races. She is a filly with stacks of potential for the summer and she will stay well.

"Gonfilia looks a possible French Guineas contender, or Newmarket, while Echoes Of Eternity ran a race full of promise in third and will stay further.

"We have four promising European fillies to consider - the other is Mezzo Soprano who did not run in this trial - and slot into the right races closer to the time. They will all be entered up and we will not make final decisions for a while."

The unbeaten Mezzo Soprano, who was snapped up from France, holds a key place in the Epsom Oaks market as Godolphin seek to follow up Kazzia's triumph 12 months ago.

Godolphin announced yesterday that Inamorato and Danuta, who leave for America today, will not run in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 or the Kentucky Oaks on May 2 respectively.

Inamorato, who was the unlucky third in the UAE Derby after having to be switched twice on Saturday, and Danuta, winner of the UAE Oaks at Nad al Sheba yesterday, will instead be aimed at American feature races during the year.


Results:
* TRIAL NUMBER ONE
Colts - 8f turf (57 kg) 1. Alajwad (USA) J Carroll; 2. Amandus (USA) W Supple; 3. Qais (USA); 4. Khanjar (USA) K McEvoy; 5. Moomba (USA) R Mullen; 6. Alkaadhem (GB) R Hills; 7. Yawmi (GB) J Spencer; 8. Dubai Success (GB); 9. G Hind; 10. Late Decision (USA) J Murtagh; 11. Tropical Star (IRE) D O'Donohoe
Distances: 1.5len, Sh Hd, 1.5.
Going: Good. Time: 1:38:90


* TRIAL NUMBER TWO
Colts - 8f turf 57 kg:
1. Lateen Sails (GB) L Dettori; 2. Graikos (GB) J Spencer; 3. Country Reel (USA) K McEvoy; 4. Wilful (GB) D O'Donohoe; 5. New South Wales (GB) J Murtagh; 6. Winisk River (IRE) R Mullen; 7. Love You Always (USA) J Carroll; 8. Maksad (IRE) W Supple; 9. Mutamared (USA) R Hills
Distances: 1.75len, 1.25, 1.
Going: Good. Time: 1:38:17

* TRIAL NUMBER THREE
Fillies - 8f turf 57 kg:
1. Hi Dubai (GB) L Dettori; 2. Gonfilia (GER) K McEvoy; 3. Echoes In Eternity (IRE) J Spencer; 4. Sulaalah (IRE); 5. Lady Catherine (GB) J Murtagh; 6. Furaat (IRE) W Supple; 7. Khalkissa (USA) J Carroll; 8. Fiaafy (USA) D O'Donohoe; 9. Moonglade (USA) 10. Jadarah (USA) G Hind
Distances: Nose, 0.75len, 2.5.
Going: Good. Time: 1:37:79