Dubai: Frankie Dettori is hoping that Jalil, Godolphin's big hope in tomorrow's $6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr 1), can "knock out" red-hot favourite Curlin.
The Italian gave his horse a whopping vote of confidence yesterday and said: "Curlin is the heavyweight champion and we have to try and knock him out.
"He holds the aces, but we can still trump him."
Dettori has strongly endorsed Jalil, who cost a staggering $9.7 million as a yearling, ever since the four-year-old recorded an impressive victory in the final round of the Maktoum Challenge three weeks ago.
Jalil looks to be a progressive horse - one who has plenty of improvement still to come.
Dettori feels that tomorrow's big race will present Jalil with the perfect opportunity to showcase his full potential.
Rising to the occasion
"Jalil always had the potential. He loves this track and seems to love the dirt and every time we have put the bar up, he has risen to it and gone on," said the Italian.
"We haven't got to the bottom of him yet. He has come up with the goods in three races so far this year. He has a higher step to climb on Saturday but he has something more to give and is an improving horse with fresh legs.
"He's delivered the goods everytime he was asked. But this is his biggest challenge, it's the heavyweight division, and I'm hoping he can come up with that big punch."
Hard to beat
Dettori also acknowledged that Curlin would be hard to beat, but said: "You've got to go into the race thinking you can win it. Anything is possible, and like I said before, any horse is beatable.
"If any horse does beat Curlin tomorrow, we would like it to be Jalil.
"Curlin's a top horse, very strong and tough, but we've got to raise the bar and see if he can reach it," added Dettori.
Trainer Saeed Bin Surour was also confident that Jalil will pose a big threat to Curlin and the other top international horses in the race.
"I have always liked Jalil from when he was a yearling. The first time he ran he finished sixth as a two-year-old but he was a little backward and you could not push him hard," he said on the Godolphin website.
'Mentally better'
"So we gave him a break and kept him away from racing. The next time he ran, the horse improved the way he looked and was better mentally too.
"Jalil was doing much better towards the end of last year. He has improved from every race this season which has given us confidence to run in the Dubai World Cup.
"I am very happy with Jalil - he has come out of his last race in good shape.
Curlin is a star and you can say he is the best horse in the race.
"I have a lot of respect for him but Jalil is an improving horse - when I saw him last year I knew that he would be better with age. He has improved from being rated 95 to 113 and it will be great to see him run well or win the Dubai World Cup.
Godolphin's five winners from 12 runnings of the Dubai World Cup have been Almutawakel (1999), Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002), Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006).
See also Pages 44 and 45
latest odds
2-5 Curlin, 7-1 Jalil, 10-1 Asiatic Boy, 12-1 Vermillion, 14-1 Premium Tap, 16-1 Happy Boy, 25-1 A P Arrow, Lucky Find, 33-1 Gloria De Campeo, Kocab, Well Armed, 66-1 Great Hunter, 100-1 Sway Yed.
