Mendip to be tested for the Grade 3 Al Maktoum Challenge this year as well on 12th January at Meydan
It seems as if those who race and win at the Meydan seldom let go of the chance to win yet another time.
Mendip, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is being seriously considered for the Al Maktoum Challenge in the Dubai World Cup Carnival at the Meydan track on 12th January.
At the beginning of the Cranival, Mahbooba, trained by De Kock, was entered for the Al Rashidiya Trial sponsored by Longines, a race run during the Meydan Masters International Jockeys’ Championship.
The reason for sending her to Dubai was because just last year, on 13th January, 2011, she finished second in the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial, sponsored by Longines, at Meydan.
She was sent as the 11 to 4 joint favourite in the prior race. On 3rd February, 2011, Mahbooba won the UAE 1,000 Guineas sponsored by Etisalat at Meydan.
Not disappointing her connections, Mahbooba, won the Al Rashidiya Trial, presented by Longines, on 5th January, after being entered as the 11 to 8 favourite.
Saeed Bin Suroor wants to aim at something similar, but different from the perspective that he is entering Mendip in the same race that he won last year.
Even though Godolphin has set their potential representatives to be twenty, Mendip stands out to be the one who has already achieved what he is being considered for.
Out of the seven career starts that Mendip has made, the five-year-old has won five races, four of them being at the Meydan racecourse. He has been sent as a favourite four times.
After winning the maiden stakes on 4th September, 2009, at Kempton, he won the 4Men Conditions race at Meydan on 11th February, 2010.
During the same year, on 4th March, Mendip won the Al Bastakiya.
Almost a year back, on 13th January, 2011, Mendip was the evening’s favourite for the Grade 3 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, sponsored by Longines, which he won against De Kock trained Imbongi, by 2 ¼ lengths.
The last race that he won was the Grade 3 Burj Nahaar, sponsored by Emirates Airlines, on 3rd March, 2011.
On 12th January, 2012, the Al Maktoum will be his eighth race, after finishing sixth when he last raced on 26th March, 2011, in the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free.
Bin Suroor said:
"Mendip loves the Meydan Tapeta and, like last year, arrives here fresh and well having been rested since World Cup night last year. He seems in great form and I am hopeful”.
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