Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin best summed up the mood in Team Godolphin ranks after Frosted had impressively won Round 2 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan last Thursday.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin best summed up the mood in Team Godolphin ranks after Frosted had impressively won Round 2 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan last Thursday.
"It's a great night. I don't want it to end. Can we run a few more races?" McLaughlin quipped in the winner's enclosure. There was no mistaking that winning feeling, and it was welcomed by all associated with the winner.
Frosted looked the part as he strode clear of inferior opposition to win by five lengths in track record time. But will he be as effective against California Chrome and company in the G1 Dubai World Cup, over 2,000m, on March 26?
On official ratings, Frosted was anything from 10lb to 12lb "well in" against his rivals, and it could be argued that he was entitled to win with such authority, in any case.
But, from Team Godolphin's angle, the most pleasing aspect was that Frosted had returned mentally sharp, with an appetite for another campaign. He had spent six months of last year chasing home a champion in American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, and there was always a danger that experience could have left its mark.
Thankfully, it hasn't, and he is ready to take on all-comers.
Going forward, it was also pleasing that the grey son of Tapit had taken the travel to Dubai, and the settling in process, completely in his stride. He could be a formidable rival in the World Cup.
McLaughlin, of course, was champion trainer in the UAE in the early days of Dubai racing. His association with the Maktoum family and their horses has been enduring.
"For me, this has been a great night," the trainer pointed out. "Not only has Frosted proved he is a real World Cup contender, he has won with his owner here to watch him. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is very interested in Frosted.
"The other feature for me, personally, was to see Meydan racetrack for the first time. When I was last in Dubai, it was just being built. It is spectacular," he added.
On a night when Godolphin had four winners, McLaughlin was responsible for a double, the second winner coming courtesy of Confrontation in the G3 Firebreak Stakes. The son of War Pass now has the G2 Godolphin Mile as his main target. Both winners were ridden by William Buick.
Very Special lived up to her name when taking the G2 Cape Verdi, and stablemate Think Ahead landed a handicap later on the card to complete doubles for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey James Doyle.
Another Godolphin jockey, James McDonald, was making headlines again in Sydney when riding the first three winners on an interesting Randwick card. The handy Allergic took a handicap for him in the Godolphin royal blue colours.
A noteworthy win was recorded by the Chris Waller-trained Amicus in the G2 Thoroughbred NSW Breeders Classic. As a 1,000 Guineas winner, this return to form was welcomed and she is a potential star for the Autumn.
In Melbourne, Mick Price sent out Extreme Choice to win the G3 Chairman's Stakes at Caulfield, and the two-year-old remains on course for a crack at the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
