Godolphin's trainers discuss runners ahead of Dubai World Cup night

Godolphin's trainers discuss runners ahead of Dubai World

Cup night

Godolphin's two trainers Saeed bin Suroor and

Mahmoud Al Zarooni discussed some of their Saturday prospects at a press

conference following Thursday morning's Breakfast With the Stars at Meydan.

Al Zarooni believes that his best chance of success might come in the Group 3,

$1 million Dubai Gold Cup with Opinion Poll, the

mount of Frankie Dettori.

Despite finishing second to Fox Hunt in his only start of the season in the

Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, the six-year-old son of Halling is fancied by his trainer to turn that

form around when the two horses re-oppose on Saturday.

"Opinion Poll needed the run, and has come on for it. He's fitter now, and I

think he represents our best chance," Al Zarooni said.

Opinion Poll had an excellent 2011 in Europe when winning two Group 2 races at Goodwood and York,

and was also second in the Group 1 Gold Cup at

Royal Ascot.

Fox Hunt always tries his hardest and has won both his races

at Meydan this year, taking a 2,800 meter handicap on February 3 and the Nad

Al Sheba Trophy just under a month later. The five-year-old Dubawi gelding finished a decent seventh in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup

in Australia at the end of last season.

"Fox Hunt is a very consistent sort and has

performed very well in Dubai this year," Al Zarooni said. "He is tough and durable and was at the

top of his form when winning earlier this month. I hope he can continue to run

up to his best in the Dubai Gold Cup."

African Story was nominated by bin Suroor to the Group 2, $1 million Godolphin

Mile, and the trainer thinks the Pivotal five-year-old is his best chance on the

night. African Story, who will have Dettori aboard, has won two of his three

starts on all-weather at Meydan this year, showing improved form especially when

successful last time out in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over course and distance.

"African Story loves the surface and has done

very well in Dubai this winter," bin Suroor commented. "I like him a lot and am happy with his condition

going into the Godolphin Mile."

The conditioner will saddle two others in the race in Do It All and Sandahiyr.

The former, a Distorted Humor colt formerly raced in America, showed his best form ever when making

all to win the Group 2 Zabeel Mile on turf at Meydan on March 1.

"Do It All is multi-purpose as far as what he

races on, winning three times on an artificial surface in America," bin Suroor

remarked. "He won well

on turf on his most recent outing to earn his place in this race, which will be

a tougher challenge for him. He is sound, fit and healthy."

Sandagiyr is comparatively lightly raced, but the Dr Fong four-year-old colt has stepped up

from his French form in two starts in Dubai this year. He captured the Group 3

Firebreak Stakes on February 9 when African Story was a close third and then was

beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Do It All on returning to turf.

"Sandagiyr has enjoyed a good campaign during the

Carnival, winning well in a Group 3 on (the all-weather) and then running fourth

behind Do It All in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile on turf," his trainer said. "I think a return

to (the all-weather) will suit him but he needs to improve a bit to be in the

shake-up."

Both trainers agreed that the Group 1 Dubai World Cup was a wide

open race.

"There are a lot of good horses," Al Zarooni said, "and anyone can win it.

Monterosso was third in the race last year, and has just had the one run since,

when he was fourth on his seasonal re-appearance. He needed that run and will

strip fitter this time around. He will be helped by a fast pace, and Mickael

Barzalona will again have the ride. Capponi has done nothing but improve, and he

will be ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, who rides well from the front."

bin Suroor's Dubai World Cup hopes rest with Mendip and Prince Bishop.

"They are both in good form, but both have wide draws," he said.

The most recent of

Mendip's six successes came in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round II on February 9 but he was down the field last time

out.

"Mendip won the second round of the Al Maktoum

Challenge which was good to see," bin Suroor said. "We felt there might have been an excuse last

time in the final round of the (Group 1) Al Maktoum Challenge because he banged himself

coming out of the starting gates. Kieren Fallon, who rode him that day, said he

was never traveling afterwards. Mendip seems in very good order but he needs to

improve to have a realistic chance."

Jockey Silvestre de Sousa has the mount on Mendip.

"Mendip is a really smart horse and if puts his best effort into the race he

could be thereabouts," de Sousa said. "I wish I could have had a better draw

(than stall 13) but it really doesn't matter to me. If he is right on the night

the draw shouldn't be a problem."

Prince Bishop disappointed when 10th in the 2011 Dubai World Cup but has

won two of his last four races. His final outing of 2011 resulted in a listed

race success on Polytrack at Kempton Park in England, and he was also successful in a

2,000 meter handicap on the all-weather at Meydan on January 20. His most recent

outing came in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III when he stayed on in

third.

"Prince Bishop has done well in Dubai through the

winter but this is a bigger test," bin Suroor remarked. "We hope he can run a good race in the Dubai

World Cup but he needs to show more than he has done so far to be competitive."

Soul, whom bin Suroor trains for the Group 1, $2 Million Dubai Golden Shaheen, was also the subject of good reports from his trainer.

The ex-Australian sprinter has won his only start at Meydan this season.

"He has plenty of speed and the distance should suit him. That is why we went

for this race (rather than the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1,000 meters)."

In the Group 1, $5 million Dubai Duty Free, bin Suroor spoke of Delegator as an "interesting" runner.

"He was second to Sea the Stars in the (Group 1) Two Thousand Guineas, and is a Group 2 winner

over (1,200 meters)," bin Suroor said. "It will be a test for him to stay this extra distance, but I

think he will, and he has a good turn of foot."

That is just one of many questions that will be answered on Saturday night.