Cape Verdi bid by Promising Run

Promising Run goes for a second major victory at the Dubai World Cup Carnival as 11 Godolphin contenders are set to line up at this week’s fixture at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, 25 January.

Five-year-old mare Promising Run (Saeed bin Suroor/Pat Cosgrave) runs in the G2 Cape Verdi over a mile on turf, having run on gamely to take the nine-furlong G2 Al Rashidiya at the same course on her seasonal return 12 months ago.

The daughter of Hard Spun also captured the G2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, UK, as a juvenile and makes her first appearance since coming home third in a mile Listed race on Polytrack at Lingfield Park, UK, at the start of November.

Promising Run takes on seven fillies and mares in the Cape Verdi including South African G2 winner Smiling Blue Eyes and Rehana, successful at G3 level in Ireland.

Her trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented: “Promising Run doesn’t show a great deal in the mornings, but her work has been OK.

“This looks a tough race, but she won the Al Rashidiya on her first start of last year and we are looking for a good run.”

Godolphin is doubly represented in both divisions of the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs on dirt, with dual all-weather winner Deyaarna (Saeed bin Suroor/Jim Crowley) and Gold Town (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), an impressive nursery victor on turf at Newmarket in August, among a field of 12 in the first heat of the seven-furlong dirt contest.

Another full line-up of 12 for division two includes the Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo of Moqarrab (Jim Crowley), a decisive winner on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in December, and Racing Country (Christophe Soumillon), fourth in a Polytrack novice race at Kempton Park, UK, in November.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Deyaarna won twice in the UK last season and has been working well in Dubai. I am looking for a big run from him.

“Moqarrab is another nice colt who heads into this race in good form and I am hoping for a good result.

“Racing Country hasn’t shown a great deal in his two previous starts, but I can see from his work that he should be suited by the dirt.”

Charlie Appleby reported: “Gold Town won nicely over seven furlongs at Newmarket and looks to act well on dirt in his work.

“If he brings his best European form to the table, he should be very competitive.”

Red Galileo (Pat Cosgrave) bids to win the only 14-furlong turf handicap at the Dubai World Cup Carnival for a second straight year and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained stayer is joined by stable companion Natural Scenery (Gerald Mosse), who was third over the same trip in last year’s Ebor Handicap.

Two Saeed bin Suroor-trained runners in the 10-furlong dirt handicap include Alabaster (Oisin Murphy), successful over the course and distance last year, and unexposed four-year-old Don’t Give Up (Gerald Mosse).

Banksea (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), successful in a Newbury, UK, handicap last season, makes his Godolphin debut in the 10-furlong turf handicap, a race that also features Mountain Hunter (Saeed bin Suroor/Christophe Soumillon), who switches surface after disappointing on dirt last week.