DUBAI: Godolphin Team Ready To Fire

Thursday, 5 January 2012: Godolphin trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni are looking forward to a bright start to the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Suroor is aiming to be the leading carnival trainer for the fifth consecutive year.

The prestigious meeting starts on January 5 and 6 with Suroor due to have nine runners, including Honour System, Quick Wit, Start Right and Colonial over the two meetings.

"The horses have been working nicely and I am looking forward to seeing them run," Suroor said.

"They will improve for their first outings of the season but are in good form and I am hopeful of a nice start to the year.

"We will try to be the leading trainer at the Dubai World Cup Carnival again but it won't be easy.

"There are some very good horses coming to Meydan from all over the world this year and it will be tough to win the title for a fifth time."

Al Zarooni is well represented on both Meydan cards with Sea Lord and Laajooj contesting the Al Rashidiya Trial on Thursday and Gamilati lining up in Friday's UAE 1000 Guineas Trial.

Looking ahead, he revealed that Xin Xu Lin is being aimed at round one of the G3 Maktoum Challenge on January 12, while Casamento, Dubai Prince and French Navy are being considered for the two later rounds on February 9 and March 10.

"Xin Xu Lin didn't run a bad race when he was fifth behind Khawlah in the UAE Derby last year. He runs from the front in his races and got a bit tired near the end," he said.

"We will see how he gets on next week before deciding where to go with him, while I have earmarked rounds two and three of the Maktoum Challenge for Casamento, Dubai Prince and French Navy.

"Zip Top is a candidate for the UAE 2000 Guineas and he could have a possible tilt at the UAE Derby afterwards.

"We have Monterosso and Blue Bunting out here and they could be aimed at Super Saturday (March 10), when Blue Bunting could have her prep race for the Dubai Sheema Classic, while Opinion Poll will be readied for another crack at the Dubai Gold Cup."