Dubai: Former French horse Literato has been handed the mantle as Godolphin's main contender for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) after ante-post favourite Ramonti was yesterday declared a non-runner.
The four-year-old, who won Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Gr 1) at Newmarket last October for French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, will be making his first start for Godolphin.
Trainer Saeed Bin Surour reports that the horse is in perfect condition and ready to take up the challenge.
Literato was originally being aimed at the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr 1) over 2,400 metres, but following latest developments has been re-routed to the 1,777m Duty Free, where he will hope to give Godolphin their first win since Rhythm Band in 2000.
Ramonti, Godolphin's star performer of 2007 with four Group 1 victories, was ruled out of the Dubai World Cup meeting after losing the race to recover from an infection to the hind leg.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said on the stable's website yesterday: "Unfortunately, we have run out of time with him due to the infection he has had in a hind leg.
"We had hoped that Ramonti was going to make the Dubai Duty Free, but the plan now is to have him back on the racecourse by Royal Ascot in June."
All-conquering stable
The all-conquering stable, who have enjoyed 24 wins at the $21 million Dubai World Cup meeting, also confirmed their running plans for Saturday's extravaganza where they intend to have 12 entries.
Literator will be joined in the Duty Free by Creachadoir, an exciting four-year-old by former English 2000 Guineas winner King's Best, who was beaten a shorthead in the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin last December.
In an interesting jockey booking Godolphin have given called up seven-time UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan to ride UAE 1000 Guineas and UAe Oaks heroine Cocoa Beach in the $2 million UAE Derby (Gr 2).
Trainer Saeed Bin Surour said: "The horse goes well with Ted, so we did not want to disturb a winning formula. Ted gave her two great rides and we're hoping he can do the same on Saturday.
'Improving horses'
"We also have two more very nice improving horses in the race - My Indy, who will be ridden by Frankie (Dettori) and Numaany, the mount of Kerrin (McEvoy).
"All three of them have been working well. They are fit and ready to go."
The first two Godolphin horses to appear on the night will be Blackat Blackitten (Dettori) and Elusive Warning (McEvoy) in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
Godolphin also has two runners in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over 12 furlongs on turf - Gravitas (Dettori) and West Wind (McEvoy).
American import Diabolical returns to course and distance for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1), a race that the stable have not won since the inaugural Dubai World Cup meeting in 1996, with Kassbaan.
The team
--$6m Dubai World Cup (Gr 1)
Jalil (Frankie Dettori)
Happy Boy (Kerrin McEvoy)
--$5m Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) Literato (Dettori)
Creachadoir (McEvoy)
--$5m Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr 1)
Gravitas (Dettori)
West Wind (McEvoy)
--$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1)
Diabolical
--$2m UAE Derby (Gr 1)
My Indy (Dettori)
Numaany (McEvoy)
Cocoa Beach (Ted Durcan)
--$1million Godolphin Mile (Gr 2)
Blackat Blackitten (Dettori)
Elusive Warning (McEvoy)
