Chabal wins Classic Trial for Godolphin
There have been times when Godolphin’s horses have returned to Newmarket, from their winter quarters in Dubai, with something missing; the talent seemingly being lost in transit.
This has often been the case with their three-year-old division, which has not found its stride until the middle of the season.
The victory of Mastery in last year’s St Leger was a first British Classic success since Rule Of Law had won the same prize in 2004, the search for Guineas and Oaks winners goes further into their history while the glaring and, to Sheikh Mohammed, probably unacceptable omission is that of the Derby.
It has not been for the want of trying. Or spending.
At the end of each season the sheikh has undertaken a buying spree of sometimes jaw-dropping proportions, casting his net across the best that Europe has to offer to find that special colt. One who was added to the peacock-blue livery of Godolphin last autumn was Chabal and although no official figures would be registered for what is known as a “private” sale if the sum of £36,900.50 was involved, the decimal point was certainly elsewhere.
That was the amount that Chabal banked for the sheikh when he won the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park but, if he can develop into a genuine Derby contender, the worth to the man will be beyond mere fiscal concerns.
The concern was that Chabal might be a spent force through nothing more than his own exuberance. Only his final run of last season, in the Dewhurst Stakes when trained by Jim Bolger, Chabal had raced far too keenly before trailing in 10th.
The signs were ominous once more when a slowly run first quarter-mile saw Frankie Dettori but then Chabal dropped the bit as Dettori dropped him in at the back of the field. They were still there entering the home straight as Dettori began to move his hands. To his credit Chabal responded with a generous stride to lead with a furlong to run and win in some style as Saeed bin Suroor’s first winner of the season.
The Classic Trial winner has not gone on to win the Derby since Shahrastani in 1986 but Dettori sounded optimistic thus far. “We didn’t jump out to go very fast and he took me on for a couple of furlongs but then he put his head down and relaxed and got into a nice rhythm,” he said. “For a minute I thought we were in trouble turning for home but then he used his long stride and drew away from the field. I was very pleased, very pleased with the way he settled and now we’ve got every option open.”
There will be the inevitable deliberations over breeding – as a son of Galileo Chabla should last another two furlongs at Epsom but the dam’s side may be a little lightweight in that regard – but Bin Suroor was happy with a colt who is still a work in progress. “We’ll see about how the horse comes back after the race,” he said. “Maybe we’ll take him to the Dante. But he’s always a horse I like lot and I think he’ll be a star one day.”
John Dunlop will have been disappointed with the run of the well-supported Waseet, who trailed in last looking as though something was amiss. The trainer will be hoping that no such problems afflict Elusive Pimpernel prior to running in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in eight days’ time. “Everything has gone well, with fingers firmly crossed, and he's had a totally super time since the Craven,” Dunlop said. “He hasn't missed a day's exercise, he did his first bit of work since this morning and he's in great order, but there are still 27 horses left in the race.”
Strong Classic contenders may be a little thin on the ground within John Gosden’s yard but the trainer knows how to place the talent that he does have to best advantage. Fallen idol had only won an ordinary maiden on the Polytrack at Kempton last September but Gosden had seen enough to advise an entry for the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The gulf between a handicap and a Group One race is cavernous but the colt won the bet365.com Esher Cup with enough authority to suggest that the money may not have been entirely wasted. “At least we don’t look completely stupid at this stage,” Gosden said.
“He’s worked nicely at home but they were quite tough on him, rating him 89 off his win at Kempton. He’s progressed well this spring but he’s still not quite the finished article. It’s only the second run of his life but we like him and, with a bit of luck, we’ll come back here for the Heron Stakes here.”
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