Godolphin eyes a features harvest at Meydan Carnival’s fifth meeting

Dubai World Cup Carnival’s (DWCC) fifth meeting of this season at Meydan on Thursday evening is a quality seven-race card that’s officially highlighted by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile, also featuring the Group 2 Balanchine, Group 2 Meydan Sprint and Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, not to mention the second fillies’ Classic of the season, the Group 3 UAE Oaks.

Eleven have been declared for what appears a wide open renewal of the $163,000 1600m Group 2 Zabeel Mile sponsored by Al Tayer Motors with four Godolphin runners all holding strong claims.

Charlie Appleby is seeking a third consecutive win in the turf feature and has a trio of chances this year, stable jockey William Buick opting to ride carnival regular D’Bai, runner-up in the 1400m Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, a race he won in 2019, on his reappearance.

Mickael Barzalona rides Appleby’s Velorum, well beaten in that Al Fahidi Fort with James Doyle aboard the trainer’s third runner, Art Du Val, fourth in the 1800m Singspiel Stakes on his one previous outing this year.

Appleby said: “D’Bai ran a very good race in the Al Fahidi Fort and the return to 1600m is not a concern as he won over the trip as a young horse. We think the trip will suit him at this stage of his career.

“The 1800m looked slightly too far for Art Du Val in the Singspiel, so the drop back 200m should be in his favour.

“Velorum needed the comeback run in the Al Fahidi Fort and has improved from it. We think he can be competitive at this.”

Land Of Legends won the Al Fahidi Fort for fellow Godolphin trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor who relies on Bedouin’s Story in this. The 6-year-old and Frankie Dettori, again in the saddle, won a handicap over this 1600m, three weeks ago and Bin Suroor said: “He won nicely last time with a powerful finish under a great ride from Frankie Dettori, so conditions obviously suit.

“This is a big step up in class, but we are looking forward to seeing how he copes with it.”

The main support race and restricted to fillies and mares, the $163,000 1800m Group 2 Balanchine sponsored by Range Rover has been won by Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick in each of the last two years and they seek the hat-trick with Althiqa.

Under a penalty, she will actually seek to emulate both 2019 heroine Poetic Charm and last year’s winner, Magic Lily, by adding this prize to the 1600m Group 2 Cape Verdi tiara she won three weeks ago. Stable companion, Summer Romance, was only fifth in the Cape Verdi.

Also for Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor duo Dubai Love, the choice of Frankie Dettori, and Last Look were third and eighth respectively in the Cape Verdi.

For Britain and Roger Varian, Stylistique was runner-up in the Cape Verdi and the extra 200m looks certain to suit her and the 2020 UAE Oaks heroine, Down On Da Bayou, makes her seasonal and turf debut for Salem Bin Ghadayer.

The $163,000  1000m turf Group 2 Meydan Sprint sponsored by Land Rover was won last year by Waady, saddled by Doug Watson for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and back to defend his crown with Jim Crowley again in the saddle.

Second last year was Equilateral, again in opposition for Charlie Hills and arriving here, as was the case in 2020, having won the Dubai Dash over the same course and distance.

However, Frankie Dettori, aboard for that success a month ago, switches to A’Ali for Simon Crisford and a 1000m Group Two winner on The Curragh last July, a victory for which he is penalised here.

Third in the Dubai Dash was Godolphin’s Lazuli, the mount of William Buick for Charlie Appleby and reported in fine form by his trainer.

The second fillies’ Classic of the season, the $125,000 Group 3 UAE Oaks sponsored by New Jaguar F-Type, has attracted a field of just seven, including Doug Watson duo Mnasek and Super Chianti, second and third respectively in the UAE 1000 Guineas.

That 1600m fillies’ crown was won by Saeed Bin Suroor for Godolphin with Soft Whisper who also won the 1400m trial when chased home by stable companion Last Sunset. The latter has since filled the same runner-up berth, over 1400m on turf, in the Meydan Classic Trial and looks to go one better here in a race the trainer has already won 10 times.

The final race on a cracking card, the $130,000 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint sponsored by New Land Rover Defender was won last year by Gladiator King for Satish Seemar who is joined in the 2021 renewal by stablemates Bochart and Behavioral Bias.