Godolphin trainers hoping to build on Dubai World Cup Carnival wins

Godolphin have had their way at the Dubai World Cup Carnival so far this season but both Mahmoud Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor are set to unleash the big guns at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Capponi was the runner-up at last year's Dubai World Cup and will be among seven entered in Thursday's feature race at the Meydan Racourse. Mike Young / The National
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Godolphin have made steady progress throughout the early stages of the Dubai World Cup Carnival this season but both Mahmoud Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor are set to unleash the big guns at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.

Al Zarooni's Capponi heads a cast of seven entered under the organisation's banner for the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a 1,900m contest which acts as the feature race to the seven-race card.

Last year's Dubai World Cup runner-up could be joined by stablemate Saint Baudolino, an exciting recruit from Andre Fabre's Chantilly yard in France, while Bin Suroor could saddle Alpha, the American import.

Saint Baudolino improved throughout last season, culminating in a Group 2 success at Deauville in August. Having finished third in the Grand Prix de Paris over 2,400m the Dubai Sheema Classic on turf would be the four year old's most likely World Cup night target, although Al Zarooni is testing the water with regards to a possible tilt at the World Cup itself.

"He came straight to us from Fabre at the end of December." Al Zarooni said. "We are still learning about him. He trained at a high level last year and showed his class when winning the Group 2 on his last start. He has been training well.

"The Sheema Classic is a target but things change. We will give him a run in the Maktoum Challenge and from there we can decide. He could be a candidate for the World Cup."

Godolphin could also be represented by four runners in the UAE 1000 Guineas, with Bin Suroor hoping to improve on his seven wins in the race since 2000 with Shuruq and Mar Mar.

Al Zarooni looks to have the stronger entry with Music Chart, who beat Shuruq in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial last month, and Lovely Pass, the operation's leading candidate.

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