Shamardal joins Godolphin team
The son of Giant's Causeway has gone into winter quarters unbeaten in three starts and is 3-1 ante-post favourite with Ladbrokes for the 2000 Guineas.
He will spend the winter in Dubai with Godolphin's other new recruits Lucky Story, Layman, Windsor Knot and Suez.
Mark Johnston trained both Shamardal and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes runner-up Lucky Story for Sheikh Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud. Both horses had originally been owned by Abdulla Buhaleeba.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford told www.godolphin.com: "We are very pleased to take charge of such talented horses.
"Mark Johnston has done a wonderful job with Shamardal and Lucky Story and we will be hoping to continue his excellent work." Johnston added: "We will be sad to say goodbye to the two horses, but I wish Godolphin the very best of luck with them.
"We always knew there was a chance they might be switched to Dubai and we are very grateful to have had the opportunity to train them until now."
Godolphin now own the first two in the betting for the 2000 Guineas as Dubawi is currently second favourite.
The two-year-olds Layman, Windsor Knot and Suez have all been running in the colours of Godolphin's founder Sheikh Mohammed. Layman won two of his four races for Andre Fabre and finished a close third to Oratorio in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on his most recent start.
Windsor Knot, based with John Gosden, won two of his three starts, including the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown.
The only filly among the five new arrivals is Suez, formerly in the care of Michael Jarvis. She also won two of her three starts as a juvenile and was narrowly beaten in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes last time.
Catterick's Flat meeting tomorrow has come under threat from the weather and is now subject to an 8.30 inspection tomorrow morning.
Recent heavy rainfall has thrown the fixture into doubt and clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson is hoping for a dry 48 hours after almost two inches of rain last week and another inch between Friday night and yesterday morning.
