Cavalryman Aims to Repeat in Nad Al Sheba

Cavalryman (GB), a winner at the highest level in France and a champion in the UAE, leads a three-way assault by Godolphin on the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy today at Meydan. The 8-5 morning line favorite to repeat after taking last year’s edition fresh from the bench, won the G2 Princess of Wales’s S. and G2 Goodwood Cup last July before running fourth when last seen in the Lonsdale Cup at York Aug. 22. He is joined by fellow Saeed bin Suroor stablemates Ahzeemah (Ire)–who claimed the spoils in 2013 and looks to be rounding into form with a second in the course and distance IPIC Trophy Feb. 5–and the up and comer Excellent Result (Ire), who was last seen running third in the 1 1/2-mile Range Rover Trophy here Feb. 12. Bin Suroor commented, “All three are fit and well. They have all won over course and distance and both Cavalryman, last year, and Ahzeemah have won this race before. Ahzeemah and Excellent Result have the benefit of a run already this season and have been working well since those runs. Cavalryman had a busy campaign last year, winning well at Newmarket and Glorious Goodwood. It was always the plan to wait for this race for his return to action, but he runs well fresh as he showed when winning this on his seasonal debut 12 months ago. All three should run well and it is a race we are really looking forward to.” 

Expert South African trainer Mike de Kock sends out the duo of Almoonqith, who will be stepping up in distance for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Star Empire (SAf), the latter appearing for the fourth time after a pair of thirds (2011, 2013) and a runner-up performance in 2014. “We think Almoonqith will stay the trip,” said de Kock. “There is every encouragement he will in his pedigree and his style of racing. We are looking forward to trying him over this kind of distance and certainly hope he can make the first four. Added de Kock, “Star Empire has not been in the same kind of form as his previous Dubai World Cup Carnival campaigns and his age is probably starting to catch up with him.” 

If the Godolphin trio fail to fire, MG1SW Meandre (Fr) could pick up the pieces for trainer Doug Watson. The 7-year-old entire ran third in the IPIC Trophy behind Famous Kid (Street Cry {Ire}) and the aforementioned Ahzeemah.