Godolphin vision of the world maintains focus
Out of sight can easily be out of mind in sport, where time out of the spotlight can send careers into decline.
It is almost a year since the royal-blue silks of Godolphin were seen in the winner’s enclosure of a British racecourse after a Group One race, when Mastery won the St Leger at Doncaster. Hopes for a return to such success are invested in Rewilding when he runs in this year’s renewal in eight days’ time. But, despite not having a runner in any of the three Group One races to be contested in Britain and Ireland on Saturday, Godolphin will adhere to the remit of the founder, Sheikh Mohammed, by chasing the glittering prizes wherever they are.
Germany has been fertile ground for both of Godolphin’s main trainers -Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood al Zarooni - and Cavalryman (pictured) represents Bin Suroor in the Grosser Preis Von Baden on Sunday as he attempts a sixth major victory of the year in Germany for the stable. “We’ve been really lucky in Germany this campaign,” Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said. “It’s gone really well, winning the Guineas with Frozen Power and Campanologist has done fantastically well out there and we hope Cavalryman can continue in the same manner.”
This may be a Group One race but it is a drop in class compared to Cavalryman’s last run, when he finished fourth to Rip Van Winkle in the Juddmonte International at York last month. “It was a very solid run, he just wasn’t quite good enough to compete with those superstars,” Crisford admitted. “I think that the race should set up well for him, he’s in very good form and we’d have to be hopeful that he could run a very good race.”
It is hope more than expectation when Rio de la Plata runs in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp as he takes on the likes of Paco Boy and Prix du Jockey Club winner Lope de Vega, which is a big step up from his win in the Strensall Stakes at the Ebor meeting two weeks ago. “Realistically he’s going to find it very tough,” Crisford said. “On the book he should finish fifth or sixth but he’s in good form – he’s come out of his York race very well – and he definitely deserves to take his chance.”
Bin Surror is also responsible for the American division of Godolphin’s runners, which produced nine Grade One winners last year but is still trying to break the duck for the season with two runners in the seven-furlong Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday with Vineyard Haven and Girolamo, in a field of 11.
Vineyard Haven, a triple Grade One winner, makes his second start of the year after a course- and-distance victory in the non-graded James Marvin Stakes in July while Girolamo makes his seasonal return in the Forego having faded to finish last of 12 behind Zenyatta in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Classic Pro-Ride at Santa Anita in November.
Alan Garcia takes the ride on Vineyard Haven for a fifth successive time, with Cornelio Velasquez on board Girolamo and Bin Suroor, who saddled Godolphin’s Pyro to win last year’s Forego Stakes, said: "I was very happy with Vineyard Haven on his seasonal return and he has improved since that run.
"He has been working well and is ready to step back up to Grade One company. He’s got some very good form over this course and distance and has the class to run another big race. Girolamo is making his seasonal return on Saturday and we have been taking our time with him.
"He has being doing some good pieces of work and is ready to go now. I think that this is the right distance for him - he has the pace for seven furlongs - and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on."
First past the post for either of them would be a sight for sore eyes.
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