Cat out to impress
Discreet Cat will have to “win and win well” in Saturday’s UAE Derby if he is to be considered a legitimate contender for a trip to Kentucky, connections have reported.
Bookmakers William Hill quote the son of Forestry at just 13-8 for the £2m (€2.9m) prize this weekend after he won his first start for Godolphin in a minor event at Nad Al Sheba earlier this month with ridiculous ease.
But Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford fears the second favourite in the betting, the Ian Jory-trained Simpatico Bribon, describing him as “the Chilean monster”.
A highly-impressive winner on his Dubai debut, Saudi Arabia-based Englishman Jory was toying going for the World Cup with the Chilean-bred son of Election Day, who has won his last seven races.
But instead, Simpatico Bribon will run against stablemate Gold For Sale, the winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas.
Both horses are owned by Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Khabeer.
“It’s really too early to be talking about the Kentucky Derby,” Crisford said of Discreet Cat.
“He has got a lot of speed – natural talent and speed. But he has got to win and win well to go to Kentucky and that’s a big ‘if’ against the Chilean monster.
“He might not quite want the mile and eighth (one mile and a furlong). He has an awful lot of speed and he might be a miler or want even shorter distances but Saturday is his trial and it will tell us plenty.
“Win, lose or draw he will be going to America to be campaigned there but there is still plenty he needs to tell us.
“He has so much potential but maybe he will tell us that he needs a longer time between his races. The Triple Crown is going to be out of the question.”
Crisford also had a good word for the ex-French raider Valixir, a disappointment on his first start for Godolphin earlier in the month but out to make amends in the Dubai Duty Free.
“There’s no doubt he is a quirky horse, full of fun,” said Crisford. “But he needed that first run and if he is in the right mood then I think he will run a big race.”
Valixir is a 6-1 chance with Coral for the turf contest, run over an extended mile.
