(MENAFN-Khaleej Times) Ihtimal seeks a Classic double for Godolphin when the 1000 Guineas winner returns to action in the UAE Oaks Group-3 sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, the highlight of the 16th race-meeting at Meydan on Thursday night
Suroor-trained filly will be hopeful of keeping fine streak in UAE Oaks Group-3 at Meydan Ihtimal seeks a Classic double for Godolphin when the 1000 Guineas winner returns to action in the UAE Oaks Group-3 sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, the highlight of the 16th race-meeting at Meydan on Thursday night. The event will be contested over 1,900 metre on the tapeta with nine fillies going to post.
Godolphin has won this race on nine occasions, including Laoub (2001), Imperial Gesture (2002), Danuta (2003), Satin Kiss (2005), Cocoa Beach (2008), Devotee (2009), Khawlah (2011), Falls Of Lora (2012) and Shuruq (2013).
Silvestre De Souza takes the ride on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ihtimal, an impressive winner in the 1,600m UAE 1000 Guineas in the same course three weeks ago, while Feedyah has finished third.
Ihtimal was a good third to Chrissilliam in the Group One Shadwell Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last season and the extra furlong and half should not be a problem.
Saeed bin Suroor commented: “Ihtimal won the UAE Guineas nicely and came out of the race in good order. Her last piece of work went very well and she is looking good. I have been very happy with her and I think she will be fine with the extra distance.”
Feedyah, trained by Charlie Appleby and partnered by Mickael Barzalona, stayed on well for success by a neck in a mile fillies’ conditions race at Ascot, UK, in September.
She came home seventh in the Group Three PMU Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs on turf at Deauville, France, in August and made a winning debut over the same trip in a Polytrack fillies’ maiden at Kempton Park, UK, in June.
Charlie Appleby said: “I was pleased with Feedyah’s run in the UAE Guineas, which was a nice preparation for this race. She acts on the surface and the trip won’t be a problem.
“I don’t think that we will be able to reverse the form with Ihtimal but I am expecting a big run.”
Ihtimal and Feedyah oppose seven fillies — Mensoora, Magrooma, Magroora, More Aspen, Letterfromamerica, Illuminating Dream and Sign Of Lucky — who all lined up in the UAE 1000 Guineas.
The Qatari contender Mshawis returns to action in the Zabeel Mile G-2 following its heartbreaking narrow defeat at the hands Anaerioio and the connections are looking forward to see the Medaglia D’Oro going one better over the extended distance.
The third race, a 1,600m TB Meydan Classic (turf) is a wide open contest with plenty of horses in with a chance to do the better work.
Most of the 11-runners field has met before in the UAE 2000 Guineas on the tapeta, and there’s plenty to come from them after being shifted to the turf with Wednaan emerging the obvious choice under Christophe Soumillon.
Merhee is another good chance for the Mike De Kock yard to win the second race, six furlongs (tapeta) Handicap in the hands of the Belgium jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Modern History (Charlie Applby/Mickael Barzalona) will be difficult to beat in the opening race, a 1400m TB Handicap on the tapeta and bottom weight Winterlude looks good to win the final race for Godolphin.
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