Bin Suroor bullish about Breeders' Cup hopes

Sarah Tregoning

• Last Updated: November 06. 2009 3:42PM UAE / November 6. 2009 11:42AM GMT

Gladiatorus is one of many of Godolphin's hopefuls at the Breeders' Cup this weekend. Jacob de Golish / AFP

With 14 entries over the two-day meet, Godolphin are strong-handed in the Breeders’ Cup World Championship as the Dubai racing operation bids to continue a dominant US run in the season-ending championship.

The boys in blue’s Stateside arm racked up eight Grade One victories in 2009, atoning for the solitary English Group One win of Mastery in the St Leger at Doncaster and the two Italian top-tier successes of Gladiatorus and Schiaparelli at the end of the European season.

And trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, is uncharacteristically bullish about his chances in the much-anticipated world championship races at Santa Anita in California.

“I think we have a very good chance and I’ll be really disappointed if we don’t win races at this Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “The horses are in great form and we have really brilliant horses here. They are good enough to win races.”

Godolphin’s favourable fortunes look set to continue from the off on opening day when Mastery, winner of the world’s oldest Classic, is saddled in the opening 1m 6f Breeders’ Cup Marathon, one of the newest races on the Breeders’ schedule and worth US$500,000 (Dh1.83m).

Under Ted Durcan, Mastery saw off more fancied stablemate, Kite Wood, ridden by Frankie Dettori in the St Leger and in doing so installed himself as favourite in a ten-horse field for tonight’s race.

The card’s closing race also seems set to bring more success to Dubai with Music Note and Cocoa Beach both getting a second start in the $2m (Dh7.3m) Grade One Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic over nine furlongs on Santa Anita’s Pro Ride.

Connections hope the fancied pair can emulate their scintillating 2008 form when Cocoa Beach claimed second while this year’s favourite, Music Note, bagged third behind the unbeaten super mare, Zenyatta.

With Zenyatta attempting to make history in becoming the first female to beat the boys, including the Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird and Aidan O’Brien’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, Rip van Winkle, in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic rather than the Ladies race this year, the way is clear for the Godolphin pair to shine.

“This year they have a good chance to win this race,” said bin Suroor, who jetted to California from Australia after narrowly missing out on a maiden Melbourne Cup victory with runner-up, Crime Scene, under Kerrin McEvoy on Tuesday. “Music Note has done really well this year, I like her a lot. I am happy with her — she is a great filly and always tries her best. This year her condition is the best its ever been.

“Cocoa Beach finished third last time and she is a filly who is improving with every race. They both have every chance.”

Rajiv Maragh takes the ride on Music Note, while Richard Migliore partners Cocoa Beach.

Music Note goes into the contest on the back of two Grade One victories — the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on October 3 and the Ballerina Stakes over a shorter seven furlongs at Saratoga in August.

Cocoa Beach started her season on the dirt at Dubai’s Nad al Sheba with some strong displays including wins in the Listed UAE Oaks and UAE 1,000 Guineas. She ran third in her Santa Anita prep race over the extended-mile Grade One lady’s Secret Stakes on October 10, an improvement on her fourth in the Grade Two Ballston Spa Handicap on August 29.

Tomorrow sees Gayego, a winner over both course and distance last time out and said by bin Suroor to be Godolphin’s greatest hope for a Breeders’ victory, start in the $2m Sprint.

stregoning@thenational.ae