Big-race options open to Gamilati after Meydan Guineas win
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Royal Ascot and Newmarket will be under consideration for Gamilati after the Godolphin filly created a huge impression in powering to success in the UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan yesterday.
The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained three-year-old had shown smart form in England as a juvenile winning the Cherry Hinton at Newmarket, and was sent off the 1-2 favourite to follow up her victory in the trial for this race last month.
Racing over a mile for the first time, Frankie Dettori settled her in last place before easing her out to challenge inside the final two furlongs.
Without being asked a serious question the daughter of Bernardini sprinted clear, leaving her stable companion Pimpernel to chase her home but well adrift.
Stan James go 12-1 from 25s for the English 1000 Guineas.
Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed said: "She is a very nice filly with a touch of class and that was a very good performance.
"We have lots of options with her now with the UAE Oaks under definite consideration and perhaps then the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot or maybe the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket."
Al Zarooni added: "They are two very nice fillies and we are delighted with that. We will all have to sit down and talk about where to go next."
Dettori and Al Zarooni then doubled up with German St Leger winner Fox Hunt, formerly with Mark Johnston, in the one-mile-six handicap on turf.
Dettori said: "That is my first time on the horse and he has done it well. He had some great form last year and hopefully has more to offer in 2012."
David Barron’s consistent Hitchens arrived late on the scene to win the Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint under Silvestre de Sousa.
Hitchens was only two lengths behind Dream Ahead in third in the July Cup and the hope is he runs on World Cup Night.
"He got him stoked up and it worked out all right in the end," said Barron.
"He’s been a tremendous horse, if every racehorse we had was like him the job would be easy.
"He’ll stay over. There’s another Group Three here at the beginning of March, that would have to be on the cards but he’ll have a penalty.
"If we’re lucky enough to be in one piece by the end of March we’d hope to be back here on the big day.
"After that it all depends on how he comes back home, he’s been on the go a long time, I’d want to give him a break so we might not have him out until later in the year."
De Sousa also won the Meydan Classic Trial on Factory Time, a decent juvenile for Mick Channon last summer.
Robert Cowell’s big hope for the Carnival is King’s Stand winner Prohibit but he was delighted after Monsieur Joe got the better of Dandy Nicholls’ Inxile in the five-furlong handicap, a race Prohibit won last year.
"I think he’ll come back here on the 23rd. If he were to run well or win then we might stick him in the conditions race on the 10th, if not, he’s won a race and we’re delighted," said Cowell.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, February 04, 2012
