Godolphin duo aim to maintain Newmarket run

Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown bid to continue Godolphin’s fine recent record in two of the feature races on day two of Newmarket’s Dubai Future Champions Festival on Saturday.

Godolphin has won six of the last seven editions of the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes, a list that includes the 2022 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus and four-time G1 victor Ghaiyyath. Charlie Appleby trained both sons of Dubawi and he is represented by Ancient Wisdom, another colt by the outstanding stallion.

A five-length winner on debut at Haydock Park, Ancient Wisdom readily defied a penalty in a Newmarket novice race before coming home third behind subsequent G1 scorer Rosallion in Ascot’s Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at the end of July.

Appleby said: “Ancient Wisdom has done very well for a break since Ascot. I felt he lost little in defeat that day as seven furlongs was on the sharp side and he was still learning. He has done very well since physically and it was always the plan to give him some time off ahead of an autumn campaign. His work has been good and he should handle testing conditions if the rain does come. We feel that he will be a strong player.”

Arabian Crown, who is also by Dubawi, looks to provide Appleby with a third straight win in the G3 Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes on the back of a straightforward victory in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury in mid-August.

Having shaped promisingly in third on debut at Sandown Park in July, Arabian Crown returned to the Surrey course later the same month to comfortably score in a soft-ground maiden.

Appleby said: “Arabian Crown brings a nice profile into this. He has a pedigree and running style that suggests stepping up to a mile and a quarter will produce further improvement, so he should be very competitive.”

Bahrain International Trophy winner Dubai Future makes his first UK start for more than a year in the G3 Earthlight Darley Stakes.

The seven-year-old enjoyed a productive winter for Saeed Bin Suroor, finishing second in both the G2 Al Rashidiya and G3 Neom Turf Cup in addition to his Bahrain success. He is joined in the race by the Charlie Appleby-trained Highland Avenue, who finished third behind stable-mate Adayar in the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes over the course in April.

Bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future worked with Mawj before she headed to Keeneland and goes into this in good shape. This will be his first start in a while and we are hoping that it can be a good prep run ahead of a return to Bahrain.”

Appleby said: “Highland Avenue has been rock solid all year and ran well at this course in the spring. Slower conditions will suit and he will hopefully be competitive again.”

Mawj makes her first appearance since her thrilling 1,000 Guineas victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday.

The half-sister to dual Breeders’ Cup winner and Eclipse Award recipient Modern Games steps up to nine furlongs for her US debut having missed the majority of the European summer with a chest infection.

Trained by Bin Suroor, Mawj is unbeaten in three starts this season with the Exceed And Excel filly having followed up a pair of wins at Meydan with a brave half-length success over four-time G1 scorer Tahiyra in the Newmarket Classic.

Bin Suroor said: “Mawj had a break after she was forced to miss Royal Ascot, but she has been working nicely and travelled out to Keeneland without any problems. Oisin Murphy rode her in her last piece of work in Newmarket, which went well, and we have been pleased with her preparation.

“This will be her first try at nine furlongs, but she should be fine with the trip on a flat track like Keeneland, and we are looking forward to seeing her back on a racecourse.”