Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is bidding for an unprecedented 11th UAE 1000 Guineas with his Guineas Trial winner Final Song in the Dubai World Cup Carnival Week 4 at Meydan on Thursday.
The Dark Angel filly was impressive over the 1,400-metre trip on her debut on the dirt surface at the headquarters two weeks ago but will now have to deal with a longer distance (1,600m) for the first time.
“Final Song won the trial nicely and has been doing well since,” Bin Suroor told the godolphin.com. “I have been happy with her preparation and she is in good form. It will be her first start over a mile and I hope she stays the trip, although it depends on how much pace there is in the race.”
Bin Suroor is the most successful trainer in the dirt classic for the three-year-old fillies since it was first run in 2001.
He is double handed in the race with Dubai Love, his other runner who was fourth behind Final Song.
“Dubai Love will be suited by the step up to a mile,” Bin Suroor said. “She was staying on in the trial and I have been happy with her.”
Godolphin has four of the nine entries in the race with Charlie Appleby sending gout Chasing Dreams, the choice of his first jockey William Buick, and Silent Wave (James Doyle).
“We are putting a line through Chasing Dream’s run in the Dubai Trophy as she didn’t enjoy the rain-softened ground,” Appleby said of the Starspangedbanner filly’s first appearance on the 1,200m turf track at Meydan.
“She has a couple of question marks in terms of racing on the dirt and stepping up to a mile, although you would think that she might appreciate racing over this trip based on her last couple of runs.
“Silent Wave stayed on nicely in the Dubai Trophy on ground that was softer than ideal – she didn’t like racing on good to soft at Ascot last year either.
“She has done all her best work towards the end of her races, so we are confident that the step up in distance will suit, but the surface is a big unknown.”
Godolphin has four runners of the seven in the Group Two Al Fahidi Fort, including Glorious Journey in the silks of Sheikha Al Jalila Racing.
Appleby has three in the race with Buick on board Mythical Magic and Doyle, atop Glorious Journey.
“Mythical Magic has enjoyed a nice break since Royal Ascot and a repeat performance of his run in this race last year is going to put him bang there again,” Appleby said.
“Glorious Journey should also be very competitive if he runs up to his best form. He has done well for a break and has enjoyed wintering out in Dubai. He is a horse who likes to come with a run in his races, so a turning track like Meydan should suit.”
Mubtasim is his third entry and is a course and distance at Meydan in last year’s Carnival meeting.
Bin Suroor sends out Royal Meeting who arrives after a couple of disappointing runs in Australia. “We were disappointed with him on his two starts in Australia but he is doing very well in Dubai,” he said.
“Seven furlongs will suit and he has been doing some very good work in the mornings. I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on, so we can hopefully look at some more nice races in the future.”
