Cladocera looks hard to beat in Balanchine

"We were pretty confident before the Cape Verdi," said her jockey, Christophe

Soumillon. "She won well that day and has improved for the outing. Hopefully she

will be hard to beat."

Zurigha (Cape Cross), Anahita (Turtle Bowl), Victoria Regina (Mastercraftsman),

Energia Fribby (Agnes Gold), Slipper Orchid (Verglas) and Oh Star (Tale of the

Cat) take her on again but it is hard to see them reversing the form.

"I think we all face a stiff task to beat Cladocera," said David Simcock,

trainer of Victoria Regina. “My filly should run well but we are looking at

place money I think."

The Godolphin and Mike de Kock powerhouses clash again in the 2000-meter

Dubai Millennium Stakes with Hunter's Light (Dubawi) bidding to make it three on

the bounce for Godolphin after Quick Wit and Tasaday landed the last two

renewals.

The race, named after Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor's 2000 Dubai World

Cup (UAE-G1) winner and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's favorite horse,

was first run in 2011 and has been won by Godolphin on three occasions.

A dual Group 1 winner, including the concluding round of the Al Maktoum

Challenge in March 2013, Hunter's Light won for the first time since in a

handicap over Thursday's course and distance.

"He won very well last time and we were very pleased with him," bin Suroor

said. "We expected him to run well as his work had been very good and he has

continued in great form at home. This was the next obvious step for him, up in

class but we are very hopeful."

South African Mike de Kock saddles Umgiyo (Danehill Dancer), winner of an

1800-m turf handicap on his sole local start to date. He was impressive on that

occasion and, as importantly, staying on strongly suggesting the extra 200

meters will suit.

"We were very hopeful the other day," de Kock said. "That was a handicap

though and this is tougher -- especially with Hunter's Light in the field."

Calling Out (Martaline) has his first run for David Simcock and has been

pleasing his trainer.

"His form in France was very strong and his work has been good. He seems to

like fast ground and we are looking forward to running him," Simcock said. It is

an interesting race and Hunter's Light and the de Kock improver are going to be

hard to beat."

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