Saturday, 27 January 2007: Godolphin have given the green light for unbeaten star Discreet Cat to aim for the $US6 million Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on March 31
The Dubai operation will try to parlay Discreet Cat’s victory in last year’s Group 2 UAE Derby into a triumph in the world’s richest race over 2000m.
There had been some debate about whether the four-year-old would run in the Godolphin Mile but Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said the World Cup is the number one target.
“We’ve got plenty of options but the plan at this time is to prepare him for the Dubai World Cup," Crisford said.
The son of Forestry’s brilliant versatility allows the stable to consider several other possibilities.
Godolphin also has nominated Discreet Cat to the Dubai Golden Shaheen over 1200m and the Godolphin Mile.
Discreet Cat has settled in well since he was shipped to Dubai from the United States following his victory in the G1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in New York to cap a 2006 season that led to him being rated the world’s best three-year-old with American champion Bernardini.
“He’s an incredibly exciting horse to have in the barn. He likes to train very slowly every day, and requires very little training and very little work.”
Crisford also outlined plans for several other Godolphin stars:-
* French Group 2 winner Echo of Light, a son of 2000 World Cup winner Dubai Millennium, will be pointed for the Godolphin Mile on the sand track at Nad al Sheba.
* American G3 winner Day Pass, a three-year-old colt trained last year by Kiaran McLaughlin in the US., has the UAE Derby as his main target after a prep race on March 1.
* Group 2 winner Best Alibi, who finished third in last year’s Irish Derby, will be aimed first at the G3 Dubai City of Gold before trying the $US5 million Dubai Sheema Classic on March 31. The same plan is likely for 2005 Scottish Derby winner Imperial Stride.
* The Dubai Sheema Classic is the primary plan for Best Name, second in last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
* Killybegs, a four-year-old who won the G3 Craven Stakes last year at Newmarket, will be pointed to the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at 1600m on turf on February 22.
* Zada Belle, a three-year-old filly by Indian Charlie who won her only start last year in the U.S., is being pointed toward the UAE 1000 Guineas on February 15.
