The Godolphin Mile

Fourteen runners go to post in the Godolphin Mile sponsored by Etisalat. As the name suggests this is a Group 2 contest over a Mile or 1600m and it has attracted a very high class entry with representatives from six nations.

Mufarrh is the representative of Champion UAE trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe and this four year old has progressed so far this season to become a genuine contender tonight. Having only made his debut at the Carnival in February the son of Marju was far from disgraced in his last run behind leading Dubai World Cup fancy Twice Over last time and is sure to go close.

We have only seen Conveyance once in the UAE following his move from the US to Satish Seemar’s Zabeel Stables and he showed he was in great form chasing home Bankable over 1200m. In the US he showed the trip should be no problem winning a Group 3 over this distance so this four year old is certainly one for the short list.

Premio Loco is having his first run in the UAE and is trained in Newmarket in the UK by Chris Wall. He is the second highest rated horse in the race and will be bidding to give his trainer his first win in the UAE.  Another trainer bidding for his first winner in the UAE is Mauricio Delcher, the Spanish trainer, with As De Trebol who was placed third in both his Carnival starts chasing home Barbecue Eddie and Mendip. In the Mendip race Zafeen Speed was second and this improving son of Zafeen will certainly give Musabah Al Muhairi a good chance of hitting the target.

Mike de Kock is represented by Imbongi who was third to another of the Godolphin Mile runners in Skysurfers on his previous run.  Skysurfers is wearing the first colours of Godolphin and represents Saedd Bin Suroor. He was devastating on his only run this year and always runs well fresh so he is the one to beat in this contest. Godolphin also are represented by Rileyskeepingfaith who is trained by Mahmoud Al Zarooni. He showed his wellbeing and position as a contender for this race when seeing off Fareer over course and distance at the last Carnival Meeting in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile.

The highest rated horse in the race is Red Clubs  who is trained in Lambourn, UK by Barry Hills. He was last seen winning a Group 2 at Newmarket over 1400m in October. He is a talented performer and having been a close third in a Group 1 at Ascot behind Poets Voice will be another of the front runners.

There are two interesting runners from the USA are Make Music For Me and I Want Revenge. They both have decent form and it will be interesting to see how they get on against the horses we know more about. Crowded House is the third USA representative and he will have to improve a bit on his Carnival form to figure in the frame.

Hearts of Fire and Le Drakkar were both behind Wigmore Hall in the Jebel Hatta and are sure to make a good impression. These two complete the field and have shown themselves to be in good form.

Having looked at the race it is immensely difficult to predict the result. I have gone with Skysurfers to win as he will be running after a break which suits him. I thought Conveyence ran a promising trial for this so will plump for him in second and feel that Red Clubs could run a big race to finish third.