Dubai: Godolphin are assembling what appears to be a powerful team of horses for the $21 million Dubai World Cup meeting, which takes place in three weeks' time at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
The squadron, which could well be one of the strongest ever put together by the Dubai-owned stable, are led by Jalil, Diabolical and Elusive Warning, all of whom produced first-class efforts when winning their prep-races at the Super Thursday meeting three days ago.
Jalil, a $9.7-million purchase at the 2005 Keeneland September yearlings sale, booked his ticket to the $6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr 1), when capturing the third round of the Maktoum Challenge (Gr 2).
Since the new millennium, three Godolphin horses - Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry ('02) and Electrocutionist ('06) - have won the race and gone on to claim greater glory in the Dubai World Cup.
Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour described Jalil as a 'serious' horse and said he believed that horse had a lot more to offer.
Very excited
"He loves it out here," said the trainer, referring to the Nad Al Sheba dirt track where Jalil is unbeaten in three starts this season.
"He has improved with every run and I believe that there is still more improvement in him. He's learning all the time and he gets the trip (2,000 metres). Obviously he has given us a lot of hope for the future.
"Curlin's the one to beat, but our horses can run big races and I am very excited to take on the Horse of the Year in three weeks' time."
Godolphin have won the Dubai World Cup five times in 12 runnings and are likely to have a second runner in Brazilian-bred Happy Boy, who they acquired following his nine-length victory in the first leg of the Maktoum Challenge in January this year.
Diabolical, another recent Godolphin purchase, has revived Bin Surour's hopes of winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1), for the first time since Kassbaan prevailed in 1996.
The trainer said: "It's good that we have a nice sprinter this year and he will take his chance in the Golden Shaheen."
Ex-American colt Elusive Warning, Godolphin's third winner on Super Thursday, has given Bin Surour hope of winning the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2) for the eighth time since Tereshkova won in 1996.
He had stable companion Blackat Blackitten and Dubai World Cup second favourite Asiatic Boy behind him on the day.
"We are very pleased with his performance tonight. The plan is to run him in the Godolphin Mile before taking him back to Europe," said Bin Surour.
"Blackat Blackitten ran well tonight and he could also run in the Mile."
Bin Surour also revealed the stable's other likely runners on the Dubai World Cup card.
"Ramonti is being aimed at the Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1), and is continuing to build-up nicely for the race, while Literator will probably run in the Dubai Sheema Classic, if not the World Cup" he said. "For the UAE Derby we are looking at Cocoa Beach, Numaany and perhaps Etched. We have some nice horses this year."
Flashback
Roll of honour
Godolphin winners at the Dubai World Cup meeting since its inception in 1996.
--$6m Dubai World Cup (Group 1): 1999 Almutawakel; 2000 Dubai Millennium; 2002 Street Cry; 2003 Moon Ballad; 2006 Electrocutionist. --$5m Dubai Duty Free (Group 1): 1997 Tamayaz; 1998 Annus Mirabilis; 1999 Altibr; 2000 Dubai Millennium. --$5m Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1): 1998 Stowaway; 2003 Sulamani. --$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1): 1996 Kassbaan. --$2m UAE Derby (Group 2): 2000 China Visit; 2001 Express Tour; 2002 Essence of Dubai; 2005 Blues And Royals; 2006 Discreet Cat.
--$1m Godolphin Mile (Group 2): 1996 Tereshkova; 1997 Kassbaan; 1998 Allied Forces; 1999 Lend A Hand; 2001 Festival of Light; 2003 Firebreak; 2004 Firebreak.
