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Females Centre Stage at Meydan on Thursday

Meydan's G2 Cape Verdi is the highlight on the Dubai Wold Cup Carnival card on Jan. 28. Of the eight fillies and mares signed on to the one-mile feature, a quintet carry the Godolphin blue and the highest rated at 108 is the Group 3 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). A listed winner at Newmarket as a juvenile, the Charlie Appleby charge won the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom on July 4 and was last of six in the G1 Prix Rothschild after making all for most of that contest. Her listed-winning and MGSP stablemate Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was last seen running second in the G3 Sceptre Fillies' S. in September.

“They are two nice fillies,” said Appleby, who has won the Cape Verdi the past two years. “Althiqa was very consistent in Europe last year, winning a listed race and placing in a Group 3. She looks ideal for this test.

“Summer Romance has wintered really well and has thrived in the sunshine. Her last start in a Group 1 just did not go to plan, but she showed at Epsom that she is a very useful filly.”

Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) won the 2020 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas last January and followed up with a distant second in the G3 UAE Oaks on Feb. 20. Third in the Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday in March, the bay was given some time off and returned to England for two mores starts, with her final appearance being a fourth in the G3 Musidora S. in July. She is joined by the three-for-three Aug. 23 Ffos Las handicap heroine Last Look (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Stunning Beauty (Ire) (Shamardal), undefeated in a pair of novice stakes at Newmarket and Leicester in July and August, respectively.

“Stunning Beauty is a very talented, but somewhat quirky filly,” Bin Suroor said. “She looks the ideal type for the Cape Verdi and is unbeaten as is Last Look who has been given plenty of time as she is a bit fragile.

“Dubai Love is just a tough, genuine and versatile filly who landed the UAE 1000 Guineas on dirt last year.”

Charlie Fellowes sends out Anthony Oppenheimer homebred Perfect Inch (GB) in her first group test. The roan 4-year-old was second to Roger Varian's GSP Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the Listed Petite Etoile at Deauville on Nov. 24. Black-type winner Quiet Times (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) finished second in Deauville's Listed Prix Miss Satamixa on Dec. 19 for trainer Pia Brandt; while Norwegian 1000 Guineas heroine Silent Night (Swe) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who placed in a listed stake at Meydan last year, enters off a third in the Listed Lanwades Stud S. at Bro Park on Sept. 20.

Thursday's Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Presented by Longines features seven sophomore fillies, with the most accomplished being the three-time winner Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing the royal blue of Godolphin, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee has won her last three starts-breaking her maiden at Salisbury on Aug. 21, a four-length score at Pontefract on Sept. 24 and a 2 1/2-length tally in her Jan. 7 Meydan bow going 1400 metres. She faces several undefeated rivals including a pair from trainer Doug Watson.

Bin Suroor said: “Soft Whisper won twice in Britain last year and did well to win the trial after a slow start. The extra 200m should suit and we are expecting a big run.”

His 96-rated Mnasek (Empire Maker) drew off by 6 3/4 lengths in her lone start going seven panels on Dec. 17, with both the second and third-trainer Nicholas Bachalard's Nayefah (Super Saver) and Watson's Heshmah (Kitten's Joy)-also taking part in the first UAE Classic of the season. Owner Charles Fipke's Super Chianti (Super Saver) duly saluted for Watson when unveiled in a 1200-metre maiden race at Meydan on Nov. 19. For some Swedish flavour, Khatun (GB) (French Navy {GB}), representing the Dina Danekilde yard, breaks from the widest stall in seven after taking a six-furlong turf feature at Jagersro on Nov. 25.

Watson said: “Both are in flying form at home and we are really looking forward to trying them in this better class of race having just won a maiden apiece.”

High End (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bears the blue cap for Godolphin in the 2000-metres Listed Zabeel Turf Presented by Longines earlier on the card. One of an octet in the race for the royal blue, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee, a three-time winner, played the bridesmaid in the Listed Foundation S. at Goodwood on Sept. 23. Another bin Suroor trainee who appears to be rounding into form is Royal Marine (Ire) (Ravens Pass), who won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp in 2018. He returns to action on the back of a runner-up effort in a Sept. 19 Newbury handicap. Charlie Appleby's stakes-placed Bright Melody (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also takes part.

Satish Seemar's Senority (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could prevent a Godolphin clean sweep and the 7-year-old gelding was second in the G3 Abu Dhabi Championship at Abu Dhabi last March. He was off the board in a Jan. 14 handicap locally. Majestic Mambo (SAf) (Mambo in Seattle), who ran second in the G1 Daily News 2000 in his native land, is also amongst the opposition and is saddled by Mike de Kock. Although winless in several tries in the desert, the 6-year-old gelding was fifth in the Abu Dhabi Championship in March.

Listed winner Raakib Alhawa (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) makes his Meydan debut for David Simcock and owner Khalifa Dasmal. The 5-year-old gelding, who landed the August S. at Windsor in August of 2019 was last seen running seventh in an Ascot handicap on Oct. 17.

Click here for the group field.

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Soft Whisper Headlines Thursday’s UAE 1000 Guineas For Godolphin

The second meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC) at Meydan on Thursday evening features the first Classic of the season, the 1600m (one mile) Listed UAE 1000 Guineas presented by Longines. Saeed bin Suroor has a phenomenal record in the 3-year-old fillies' race and is seeking a 12th success since landing the inaugural event with Muwakleh in 2001.

The master of nearby Al Quoz Stables relies on Godolphin homebred Soft Whisper, winner of the 1400m (seven furlongs) UAE 1000 Guineas Trial three weeks ago. Frankie Dettori, seeking a fifth win in the race and fourth for Bin Suroor, takes the mount, replacing Pat Cosgrave who was aboard in the trial.

Second in her first two career starts, the daughter of Dubawi has won three in a row and will be looking to extend that streak on Thursday.

Bin Suroor said: “Soft Whisper won twice in Britain last year and did well to win the trial after a slow start. The extra 200m should suit and we are expecting a big run.”

Doug Watson saddled Super Chianti and Mnasek, both winners on their only start to date. The latter did remarkably well to win her 1400m maiden five weeks ago having totally missed the break under Dane O'Neill who again rides. Pat Dobbs again partners stablemate Super Chianti, the pair victorious in a 1200m maiden ten weeks ago.

Watson said: “Both are in flying form at home and we are really looking forward to trying them in this better class of race having just won a maiden apiece.”

Nicholas Bachalard saddles Nayefah, runner-up to both Watson fillies in her two outings to date. The mount of Ryan Curatolo will attempt to gain revenge and Bachalard said: “We deliberately missed the trial to give her more time between races. “She has done herself no favours with slow starts both times, so hopefully she can break on terms this time.”

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Ghaiyyath Crowned Longines World’s Best Racehorse

Godolphin's Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was officially named Longines World's Best Racehorse on Tuesday having been assessed to have posted the top two performances of 2020. His high mark of 130 was gained in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York, which was also named Longines World's Best Horserace for the first time. The former Charlie Appleby trainee also recorded a mark of 127 in the G1 Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup which, in a pandemic-disrupted season, was moved from Epsom to Newmarket.

Bred by the Weld family's Springbank Way Stud from the 2006 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ghaiyyath won his first four starts in 2020, starting out with a facile victory in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. at Meydan in track record time. Returning to the UK, the 5-year-old beat the previous season's Derby winner Athony Van Dyck (Ire) in the Coronation Cup before claiming an even bigger scalp with his victory over Enable (GB) in the G1 Coral-Eclipse. His championship performance came with his three-length strike in the International, in which fellow Group 1 winners Magical (Ire), Lord North (Ire) and Kameko filled the minor places. Ghaiyyath has now retired to his owner Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's Kildangan Stud in Ireland.

“In some ways he was the perfect racehorse; he had so many positive attributes,” said Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland. “He campaigned internationally and he was at that age to have reached his peak form. He was the kind of brand ambassador that Godolphin has been famous for down the years. His high cruising speed and his ability to find acceleration at the end of his races was what really set him apart.”

Charlie Appleby added, “It was a great privilege to be involved with a horse like Ghaiyyath. Right from the start he was one of the horses we were very find of and to train a horse like this for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and for Godolphin was a great honour.

“The most pleasing victory in 2020 was the Juddmonte International. I felt it just confirmed what we had seen in the Eclipse when he beat Enable.”

The ongoing Covid-19 restrictions meant that for the first time the awards, organised for the eighth year in tandem by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), were presented in an online ceremony hosted by Francesca Cumani as Newmarket's National Horseracing Museum instead of in London.

A stellar season for the Bob Baffert-trained Authentic (Into Mischief) saw him win the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell S. but it was his 2 1/4-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic which was judged to be his standout performance of the year on 126,. This placed him second overall in the rankings and made him the world's best 3-year-old and highest-rated dirt horse.

Authentic is now at stud at Spendthrift Farm, which comprised one part of his large syndicate of owners during his racing days. The group included Myracehorse Stable, with members in every state in America and from more than 20 countries around the world.

“I used to love looking forward to making that trip to London even though it was always freezing,” said Baffert via video link from his home in California. The trainer was also responsible for Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic winner American Pharoah, who was the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2015, as well as Arrogate, the world's top-rated horse of 2016 and 2017.

He continued, “Authentic was just getting better and better and better. He had a lot of speed and he could carry a mile and a quarter effortlessly. It takes a really good horse to win the Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic. Is it's just an honour to be involved in this. Racing is all about bragging rights so to have a horse as good as this is what it's all about.”

There was a seven-way tie for third between horses trained in Britain, France, America and Australia on a ranking of 125. Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) won three Group 1 races in two different hemispheres for the William Haggas stable in 2020 but it was his season-closing victory in the QIPCO British Champion S. for which he gained top marks, alongside fellow Newmarket resident Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}). The latter was the top-rated European 3-year-old, gaining his mark for his run in the G1 Prix du Haras Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville. Juddmonte's Kingman is also the sire of Persian King (Ire), ranked equal to Palace Pier on 125 after winning the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, while Palace Pier's stablemate Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is again the top stayer in the world having run to 125 when winning the G1 Gold Cup for the third time at Royal Ascot.

The Barclay Tagg-trained Tiz The Law (Constitution) was also awarded 125 for his GI Runhappy Travers S. victory, and that mark was also achieved by Australian sprinters Bivouac (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the G1 Darley Sprint Classic and The TAB Everest respectively.

Japan's recently retired Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), trained by Sakae Kunieda, was judged to have run to a mark of 124 on two occasions, when winning the GI Victoria Mile and GI Longines Japan Cup for the second time. That same mark was awarded to her compatriot, the Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), whose first taste of defeat came when finishing runner-up to Almond Eye in the Japan Cup.

Also in equal-tenth place on 124 was Hong Kong star Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), now the winner of 15 of his 16 races and gaining his top mark in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. The impressive victory of Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. and of Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) in the G1 TJ Smith S. also gained marks of 124.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) headed a quintet in joint-15th place on 123. They included Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's crack sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), G1 Prince of Wales's S.winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the Japanese duo of GI Tenno Sho runner-up Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Improbable (City Zip) was another to reach 123, a mark he gained twice, in the GI Whitney S. and GI Awesome Again S.

The best performance of 2020 for Juddmonte superstar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was her record third victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S, for which she was awarded a mark of 122. This same rating was given to Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for her victories in the Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) for his G2 Shadwell Joel S. success, and to the previous season's European champion 2-year-old Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal). Also on 122 were Maximum Security (New Year's Day), Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}), Gamine (Into Mischief), In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike).

Of the 56 horses in the world with a rating of 120 or more in 2020, 14 were trained in Britain, 11 in America, 10 in Ireland, and seven in Japan, while France, Australia and Hong Kong accounted for four apiece, and two were trained in South Africa.

Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2011 and 2012, achieved the highest-ever rating of 140.

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Newmarket Pony Academy to Launch in April

The Newmarket Pony Academy (NPA), where young people can enjoy close contact with horses and ponies, will begin in April. Based at the British Racing School (BRS), the NPA is supported by The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust and Godolphin and has been working closely with local schools and the West Suffolk Council. The NPA will operate a range of programmes to meet the needs of different groups of young people. Some of the programmes offered are as follows:

One-week courses for Year 6 pupils from local primary schools which will introduce them to ponies whilst making use of a different learning environment to engage them in core subjects. These courses will build on the curriculum, which students are studying, whilst also building confidence and resilience.
Breakfast, afterschool and holiday clubs for local young people identified by teachers and social workers as at risk of being drawn into criminality or likely to face challenges as they move from primary to secondary school. It is hoped that engaging with the NPA regularly will give these young people a positive constant in their lives.
One day per week course for students from The Newmarket Academy Polaris centre. The centre provides bespoke and individual education for young people in Years 7 to 11 with communication and interaction needs. It is well established that interaction with horses and ponies is of great benefit to this group of young people. You can find out more about the Polaris centre here.
Working in partnership with existing urban riding clubs such as the Urban Equestrian Academy in Leicester and the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, the NPA will provide their members with an opportunity to attend residential weeks at the BRS to learn about racehorses and the wider racing industry.
The NPA will also provide the opportunity to re-establish a Newmarket Riding For the Disabled (RDA) group.

Andrew Braithwaite, British Racing School Finance Director, said, “The case for racing becoming more open and inclusive is clear and the NPA will allow us and the wider industry to give young people a real insight into horseracing regardless of their background and, for those bitten by the bug, a route into the industry. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Trust for their generous support of this project and to the team at Godolphin for their vision and drive.”

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