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Godolphin runners at Dubai World Cup |
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3/23/2006 8:55:23 AM |
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 Godolphin has declared four runners on Dubai World Cup night at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday, March 25.
Electrocutionist challenges 10 rivals from around the globe in the 11th running of the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race with US$6 million in prize-money.
The top-class five-year-old impressed on his first start on dirt earlier this month, winning the Group Two H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge (Round III) over 10 furlongs - the same distance as the World Cup - by seven lengths at Nad Al Sheba.
Frankie Dettori, who rode him that day, takes the mount again and Godolphin's number one retained jockey commented: "Electrocutionist's first start on dirt was good.
"There is much tougher opposition in the Dubai World Cup but so far what he has shown has been pleasing."
Electrocutionist received stall one for the Group One race at the draw on Wednesday, March 22, something Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager was hoping to avoid.
"I wanted a middle to high draw which would have given him a great chance of winning. He has been drawn low which may diminish his chances quite considerably.
"He is a European horse who is not used to severe kickback and stall one could be tough on him."
Apart from the draw, Simon Crisford is pleased with Electrocutionist who will be bidding to give Godolphin a fifth success in the Dubai World Cup, following on from Moon Ballad in 2003, Street Cry in 2002, Dubai Millennium in 2000 and Almutawakel in 1999.
"He is a very relaxed sort, very easy going and is doing everything right. He is a class act and, of the horses we had under consideration for the Dubai World Cup, he was the one who seemed to go on the surface best.
"Electrocutionist ideally does not want to be dropped out too much or forcing the pace - tracking the leaders and having a nice position would be best.
"He stays well and has the long straight at Nad Al Sheba to get himself organised. Of all the Dubai World Cup horses we have had, the one he would remind us most of is Swain who was second (beaten a short-head) to Silver Charm in 1998."
Saeed bin Suroor, Godolphin's trainer, is happy with his charge.
"We were very pleased with Electrocutionist's first run. He appeared to handle the surface well that day, but I certainly wouldn't say on the strength of that one run that he is proven on dirt.
"He faces a much stiffer task on Saturday when he takes on top-class dirt horses in the Dubai World Cup. The draw is not what we were looking for but we hope he runs well."
Discreet Cat, Godolphin's principal hope in the Group Two UAE Derby, worth US$2 million, has been treated more kindly in the draw for the nine-furlong contest on dirt.
The three-year-old was drawn nine of the 13 runners, while the other Godolphin runner, Testimony, has been allocated stall seven.
His rider Frankie Dettori said: "Discreet Cat has run twice and won twice - doing nothing wrong. He may lack experience and have to tackle the big guns on Saturday but we are hoping for a good run."
Saeed bin Suroor is delighted with the progress that Discreet Cat has made since coming to Dubai: "Discreet Cat is a horse I like. He has trained well during the winter and had a nice reintroduction at Nad Al Sheba earlier this month.
"The UAE Derby represents a big step up in class for him. I hope he can be competitive in this higher grade against some more experienced colts.
"We also run Testimony in the UAE Derby. He worked on Tuesday. He looks like a horse who will benefit from stepping up in distance, but he needs to improve on his last start if he is to take a hand in the finish on Saturday."
There has been plenty of speculation that Discreet Cat may challenge for the Kentucky Derby in America but Simon Crisford warned against taking this for granted.
He said: "It is really too early to be talking about the Kentucky Derby. We will watch him on Saturday night and see how he gets on. He has a lot of natural talent and speed, though he is very short of experience and long on the hype so the horse has got to do the talking for himself now.
"If he wins and wins well, and that is a big if as he is up against the Chilean-bred Simpatico Bribon, then Sheikh Mohammed will make the decision about whether we head for the Kentucky Derby or give the horse a little more time.
"Discreet Cat strikes us very much as a colt who could get better as the year goes on. He is still very immature but he has so much potential and talent. Maybe the horse will tell us that a longer time between his races will help him and also tell us that he is a miler."
Valixir is the final intended Godolphin runner at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday and the five-year-old horse goes for the Dubai Duty Free on turf over just short of nine furlongs.
The US$5-million Group One contest is the joint richest turf race in the world alongside the Dubai Sheema Classic 40 minutes earlier.
Valixir has been drawn towards the outside of the 14-strong field - in stall 12 - and it is hoped that he will run better than he did when seventh in the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Jebel Hatta Stakes at Nad Al Sheba on March 2.
Simon Crisford thinks he will because everything went wrong that day.
"Valixir was too fresh, made the running and was giving weight. I think he will run a good race and, all being well, we will be looking at races in Hong Kong and Singapore after Saturday."
Saeed bin Suroor remarked: "With prize-money of US$5 million which has attracted a strong field, the Dubai Duty Free is obviously going to be a hard race to win this year, but Valixir deserves to take his chance."
Frankie Dettori added: "I don't know much about Valixir as I have only ridden him once. He was carrying a 7lb penalty, things did not go my way and he got tired at the end.
"That race will have brought him forward and let's hope he shows his best form but it will be a tough one to win."
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