It is amazing what revelations are produced when three of the world’s best jockeys relax in the Dubai sun in the winter months.......with a video camera and microphone for company.

Mickael Barzalona, James Doyle and William Buick, may have thought they had covered just about every angle in television interviews, but still there were previously unheard and unpublished views of great interest to Godolphin followers worldwide.

Top of the list was Barzalona’s statement that the Andre Fabre-trained Mind Mapping is the horse that he currently rides that has the most potential.

The Medaglia d’Oro colt won only a maiden at Saint-Cloud in France late last season, yet he is clearly one for whom there are expectations.

“Mind Mapping was beaten first time out (in another Saint-Cloud maiden earlier in the campaign) but he appears to have huge potential, so we are really looking forward to seeing him progress,” he reported.

Barzalona has ridden so many good horses for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed that his opinion must be noted and respected.

Asked what was his greatest moment riding for Godolphin, the young Frenchman replied: “Winning the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (at Del Mar in November) with Talismanic. Now I am older, I feel I appreciate my wins more and I appreciate what it’s like to win a big race.”

The jockey’s affection for his Breeders’ Cup partner was obvious: “Talismanic is such a nice horse, he always really deserves to win his races.”

Also, in Barzalona’s opinion, the three main attributes that a jockey must have to survive in the sport are: control your stress for the big event, control your weight, and, importantly, acknowledge the horses.

James Doyle revealed that Dubai has always been special for him during his riding career, right from the day he landed the G1 Dubai Duty Free aboard Cityscape in 2012.

Doyle recalled receiving a phone call requesting him to come to a meeting, at which he was offered a contract to ride for Godolphin.

“It was pretty surreal. Growing up as a young boy, all I ever wanted to be was a jockey, dreaming about putting on the royal blue silks of Godolphin and seeing His Highness Sheikh Mohammed,” he said.

William Buick let his enthusiasm over a possible American campaign for Gold Town shine through in his interview.

Buick said he was “pleasantly surprised” by what Gold Town had shown him in winning the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas.

“He had been training well on it (dirt) but what he has done on the track (in races) is nothing short of amazing. He gave me a great feel in the Guineas. 

He feels like he is floating along.

“I have never ridden in a Kentucky Derby but we can dream. It’s wonderful for His Highness to have a horse of that calibre again,” the jockey said.