Romantic Style aiming to continue fine G2 Cape Verdi run

French G3 winner Romantic Style hopes to enhance Godolphin’s enviable record in the G2 Cape Verdi as fillies and mares take centre stage at this week’s Dubai Racing Carnival meeting on Friday, 17 January.

The royal blue silks have been carried to victory 11 times in the mile feature since it was elevated to G2 status in 2011, including eight of the last nine renewals.

Despite being based with Charlie Appleby in the UK, all three of Romantic Style’s 2024 appearances came in France, headed by a comfortable victory over subsequent G1 winners Ramatuelle and Tamfana in April’s G3 Prix Imprudence.

Romantic Style went down by half a length in total when a close fourth in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) but failed to replicate the same level of form as she trailed home last in the G1 Prix Jean Prat.

Charlie Appleby said: “We are very pleased with Romantic Style heading into her seasonal return and her preparation has gone well. This is a starting point ahead of a potential European campaign and, if she runs to the level she showed in the French Guineas, it will make her the one to beat. Hopefully, this can set her up for a good year.”

Wild Tiger captured the Royal Hunt Cup on his latest start and the half-brother to the 2023 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers bids for a first Meydan success in the evening’s seven-furlong turf handicap.

His trainer Saeed bin Suroor is also represented by Ghaly and Movie Maker, who both lined up over the same course and distance in December’s Listed Business Bay Challenge. Newmarket Listed runner-up Bold Style runs for Charlie Appleby, with Olympic Candle a first reserve for the contest.

Friday’s card is bookended by two 70-90 turf handicaps over an extended nine furlongs and Godolphin has runners in both.

Emperor’s Star, successful over seven furlongs last year, tackles the trip for the first time for Charlie Appleby in the opening race, while the Saeed bin Suroor-trained First View goes in the finale having been runner-up over a similar distance at last year’s Carnival.

Arabic Art, who was second in the UK on his only previous start, and Warsong both aim to get off the mark for Saeed bin Suroor in a six-furlong conditions race on the turf.