Godolphin holds the distinction of having the most wins by an owner in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, and Sheikh Mohammed's stable looks to have a very strong chance of extending that advantage in Saturday's renewal. Saeed bin Suroor saddles last year's G2 UAE Derby winner-and dual French Group 1 winner-Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), and the 4-year-old signaled his well being with a win in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over a half-furlong shorter than this a month ago over the re-opposing North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bin Suroor also sends out Team Talk (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). The 5-year-old was a two-time winner-including a Lingfield listed race-from three starts in his debut season at three in 2016, and he returned at Meydan after missing the entirety of his 4-year-old season. Well beaten and last first-up, he bounced back to be beaten 2 1/4 lengths in fourth in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. over this trip on Feb. 22.
Charlie Appleby sends out the well-bred Boynton (More Than Ready), a $750,000 yearling who looked a Classic hope two years ago before being sidelined due to injury. Gelded after going winless in three tries in Britain late last year, Boynton resurfaced with an eye-catching first-up win at Meydan on Feb. 1 over carnival winner Kimbear (Temple City).
Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland) could do no better than fourth behind Thunder Snow in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, but she bounced back to be a short-head second to Godolphin's good mare Promising Run (Hard Spun) in the G2 Balanchine S. on Feb. 17.
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