Tag Archive for: Godolphin

Anamoe adds potential sprinkle of stardust to Lockinge

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Nine-time Australian Group One winner Anamoe is one of the star attractions among the 30 names in line to run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month.

Owned by Godolphin, he is trained by James Cummings and has won 14 of his 24 starts – including his last three, tasting success at Rosehill in the George Ryder Stakes most recently.

The Cox Plate hero will wave goodbye to his Aussie fans in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday where he will have the chance to replicate the achievements of Winx and Makybe Diva and win a seventh Group One of the season.

Afterwards his sights will be pointed towards Europe where the May 20 Group One could prove a stepping stone towards Royal Ascot.

Godolphin could also be represented in the one-mile event by dual Breeders’ Cup hero Modern Games, his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Valiant Prince, Saeed bin Suroor’s Real World and Andre Fabre’s Tribalist – fresh from victory in the Prix Edmond Blanc.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s The Revenant was second in that Saint-Cloud event and is another possible French raider, while Aidan O’Brien’s Order Of Australia is the sole Ballydoyle representative.

Race sponsors Al Shaqab have the chance to keep hold of the prize-money when Richard Hannon bids for his third win in the race with Lusail, who was placed at both Royal Ascot and in the Prix Jean Prat last term.

Lusail, here winning the Gimcrack at York, will run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury
Lusail, here winning the Gimcrack at York, will run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (Nigel French/PA)

“I’ve been very happy with Lusail since he came back from Saudi Arabia,” said the trainer.

“He ran a good race out there but he clearly wants a mile now and the Lockinge, sponsored by Al Shaqab, makes it the ideal race to be his main target for the year.

“He may have a prep run before then but he is a horse that keeps himself pretty fit and Newbury is an ideal, uncomplicated track for him and hopefully he will make Al Shaqab proud and run a big race.

“The Lockinge is always a race we like to target, the prize-money is extremely good, and we are happy to go there if we have one good enough which he is.

“Having finished second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, he has proved himself several times.”

Other notables include the John and Thady Gosden-trained trio of Inspiral, Nashwa and Laurel, while last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs is another filly with the capabilities to get into the mix.

Classy pair headline Meydan treble for Appleby and Buick

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William Buick and Charlie Appleby enjoyed a Meydan treble led by Nations Pride and Siskany claiming Group Three honours.

The pair’s first winning runner came in the Lord Glitters Handicap as New Kingdom prevailed as the 5-2 favourite, before Siskany then made a successful return to Dubai to land the Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

The Dubawi gelding won a Listed race, the Al Khail Trophy, at the track last year and in the autumn returned to Europe to take the Listed Dubai Godolphin Stakes and finish third in both the Grosser Allianz-Preis von Bayern at Munich and the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton.

In his first run of the year he was the 4-5 favourite over a mile and six furlongs and came home two lengths ahead of Marco Botti’s Ardakan.

“He hadn’t raced for a while so he was a bit fresh, he was over-racing in stages a little bit but it was a really pleasing performance from him,” Buick said.

“He stays well and like any good stayer he’s got that gear change over this trip which sets him apart.

“He’s been a rock solid horse from day one, this fella, and hopefully he can make up in a Dubai Gold Cup horse.”

Nations Pride then sealed the hat-trick in the Dubai Millennium Stakes, striking at 11-8 to win for the 11th time in a career that has seen him campaigned in Europe, the Middle East and America.

Buick added: “He went to America and did well all season, it was great to get him back and it was the perfect prep run for him – he’s going to go on to better things than this.

“They went very slow, it looked like it was going to be, tactically, quite a messy race and it proved so.

“I was happy with where he was and he picked up very well, he’s class and class prevailed in the end.”

Moonlight spearheads powerful Godolphin team at Meydan

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With The Moonlight, who spent the second half of last season campaigned in America after disappointing in the Oaks, headlines a strong Godolphin squad in the Cape Verdi at Meydan on Friday.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the filly won the Pretty Polly on her first start at three, booking her ticket for Epsom, where she finished last of 11.

She enjoyed her time in the US, though, winning a Grade Three and finishing second at the highest level. Appleby also runs Wild Beauty.

“With The Moonlight is clear on official ratings and, while the trip will be on the sharper side, I feel that the style of racing at Meydan will suit her,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“Wild Beauty has definitely come on for her first start of the year and will hopefully be very competitive. I feel we have two fillies that should be bang there in the finish.”

Saeed bin Suroor also holds strong claims with his two runners, Soft Whisper and White Moonlight, first and second in a conditions race last month.

“Soft Whisper is a tough filly, who always tries in her races, and came out of her win in the Ipi Tombe Stakes in good form. She has been going well at home and I’m looking for another success from her,” said Bin Suroor.

“White Moonlight is a big, strong filly, who is improving all the time. Her latest piece of work went well and the step back up in trip will suit. We are hopeful of another good effort.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Algiers will aim to back up a hugely-impressive Meydan debut in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge when he runs in Round Two, where he meets Salute The Soldier.

Ottoman Fleet needs to turn the tables on stablemate Valiant Prince
Ottoman Fleet needs to turn the tables on stablemate Valiant Prince (David Davies/PA)

Godolphin also dominate in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes through Appleby’s Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, plus Bin Suroor’s Dubai Future and Desert Fire.

“Valiant Prince has come out of the Al Rashidiya well. He has to carry a penalty for that win but has a nice draw in stall two and should be very competitive based on what he achieved last time out,” said Appleby.

“I feel Ottoman Fleet has come forward since the Al Rashidiya, when he travelled well before getting a bit tired in the last 100 yards. He is better at the weights with Valiant Prince this time, which should put him bang there.”

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future ran well to finish second in the Al Rashidiya and this course and distance suits him. This is another tough race but he heads into it in good form.

“Desert Fire won nicely over this trip in last season’s Al Rashidiya but was disappointing in the Zabeel Mile. He came out of that race in good condition and I am hoping for a better performance this time.