One of Godolphin Australia's newest English acquisitions and one of its most consistent local performers have indicated they are in good shape for a strong Autumn campaign with impressive trial performances in Sydney on Monday, January 4.
One of Godolphin Australia's newest English acquisitions and one of its most consistent local performers have indicated they are in good shape for a strong Autumn campaign with impressive trial performances in Sydney on Monday, January 4.
Arab Dawn, a Royal Ascot winner last June, made his first public appearance for trainer John O'Shea in what was little more than a familiarisation gallop at Rosehill racecourse.
But he confirmed the good impression already held his new handler.
"His form suggests he's a nice horse and he's shown us the same," O'Shea said.
"He wasn't pushed at all on a heavy track today, but he handled things well."
With the stable's No.1 jockey James McDonald up, Arab Dawn was positioned off the pace in the trial and cruised to the line without being pushed.
"We weren't asking him to do much, so under the circumstances the trial was brilliant," McDonald said.
The son of Dalakhani last raced at Kempton last September when third in the G3 September Stakes behind the Irish Derby winner and Epsom Derby runner-up Jack Hobbs.
Four runs back he scored his Royal Ascot win in a very competitive 2,400m handicap.
O'Shea was able to get a good reading of Arab Dawn's potential through the trial winner and stablemate Vashka a winner of eight of his 16 starts.
"Vashka (pictured) is a G3 winner in the Spring and is a very honest horse, so we got a good guide on them both," he said.
An Autumn program is yet to be confirmed for Arab Dawn, but his English form suggests he will be up to the good-class middle distance races.
On a day when Godolphin sent nine horses to the trials, another to impress was Cul De Sac, an unraced Teofilo colt who won his trial in good style.
Cul De Sac is a half-brother to Godolphin's recent Sydney winner Medcaut.
