GOODWOOD, England // Saeed bin Suroor secured a one-two in the Goodwood Cup as Cavalryman and Ahzeemah fought out a thrilling finish to the feature race yesterday.
Cavalryman was better at the line by a neck but the margin of victory belies what was left in the tank as the eight-year-old was idling, having hit the front 400 metres from the wire.
Kieren Fallon took one look behind him and saw Harry Bentley bearing down on him, but the Irishman pushed out his mount for one final surge.
“I thought I was clear,” Fallon said. “It was a good job I took a look around but in truth my horse was always going to hold him, he is so tough.”
Cavalryman was seventh in the Melbourne Cup two seasons ago and, although Fallon believes his horse is too exposed to the Australian handicappers to make the return journey worthwhile, Bin Suroor is preparing a huge raiding party for the first Tuesday in November.
“We will talk to Sheikh Mohammed but it could be the Melbourne Cup,” the trainer said of the winner.
“Ahzeemah could be another option and I would like to take three horses down there.”
Both Cavalryman and Ahzeemah could head to York Racecourse later this month for the Lonsdale Cup.
They could also be joined on the plane to Melbourne for the Emirates-sponsored event by Excellent Result, who was sixth under Jamie Spencer. The Goodwood Cup is staged over the same 3,200m distance as the Melbourne Cup.
Later on the card Safety Check provided a first winner at Glorious Goodwood for Charlie Appleby when the three-year-old colt won the Tatler Handicap.
Appleby will be represented in the Glorious Stakes today by Encke, who will have his first start since beating Camelot in the 2012 English St Leger.
sports@thenational.ae
