Godolphin may well not have a legitimate challenger for Saturday’s English 2,000 Guineas following the defection of Emotionless last week, but the Dubai-based organisation’s Newmarket yards roar in to life this weekend.
Saturday’s Classic at Newmarket was slated throughout the winter to be the day when Godolphin laid down the gauntlet to the Ballydoyle operation. The clash between Emotionless and Air Force Blue had been on the cards for several months, but Charlie Appleby’s decision to scratch Emotionless now leaves Mark Johnston’s Buratino as the only realistic challenger to carry the royal blue silks.
Such is the nature of Godolphin’s international ambitions, however, that where Appleby’s front doorstep was set to be his focus, instead he is looking some 6000 miles east where Dubai World Cup Carnival star Safety Check becomes his first runner in Hong Kong on Sunday in the Group 1 Champions Mile.
Before then, on Saturday Jungle Cat, who was fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan last month, runs against fellow Al Quoz Sprint participants Sole Power and Sir Maximilian and Carnival runner Mirza in Saturday’s Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Appleby has had around a third of the runners in Britain this month compared to Saeed bin Suroor, who potentially unleashes Meydan Classic winner Pure Diamond under Harry Bentley in a Listed race at Goodwood on the same day. For good measure, John Gosden runs Jack Hobbs in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Safety Check, who was last season winning a second Zabeel Mile in February, arrived at Sha Tin on Saturday and has settled in well under the care of Appleby’s assistant Sophie Chretien.
The five-year-old son of Dubawi, whose trademark finishing kick has resulted in a flawless five-race winning sequence at Meydan during the past two seasons, worked fluidly under English Derby-winning rider Willie Ryan on Wednesday.
Safety Check, who will be ridden by Australian-based jockey James MacDonald, faces a fierce test on his first start over 1,600 metres at Group 1 level, in a race that has been won by only one international runner – Mike de Kock’s Variety Club in 2014, since the $HK14million (Dh6.6m) contest was opened to international runners in 2005.
Godolphin Australia also run Bow Creek, who will be ridden by Zac Purton who makes his Godolphin debut, but both horses look to have it all to do against Japanese raider Maurice, who won the Hong Kong Mile in December.
“Safety Check is in Hong Kong and not running in something like the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in a few weeks because he needs fast ground and in Europe in May you can never be sure,” John Ferguson, chief executive and racing manager of Godolphin, said.
“Safety Check’s running style will suit Sha Tin, and although we have great respect for Marcel, you can’t shy away from one horse. John O’Shea, Bow Creek’s trainer, is very happy with his horse.”
Jungle Cat was put in his place in the Al Quoz Sprint by Buffering, who runs in Sunday’s Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint at Sha Tin, but was drawn unfavourably on the far side at Meydan.
Jungle Cat is only a four-year-old, too, and is beginning to remind connections of Appleby’s Ahtoug, who ran with credit both in the 2014 Al Quoz and then again in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in the same season.
“He ran a great race from his draw,” Ferguson added. “He made great progress during the Carnival and it was great to see him in that sort of form in Dubai.
“Providing the ground at Newmarket is not too soft he’d give a good account of himself.
“Ahtoug performed at the highest level when he ran for Charlie and Jungle Cat looks to at least be on the same path.”
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