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Grand National festival

Christophe Soumillon on Asoof as Bin Suroor aims two at Cape Verdi

Victory Wave: partnered by Jason Watson to victory at Chelmsford in September
Victory Wave: partnered by Jason Watson to victory at Chelmsford in September

The Group 2 Cape Verdi (4.15), inaugurated in 2004 and dominated in recent years by Godolphin, is the feature at Meydan on Thursday for the third meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Saeed Bin Suroor has saddled the winner five times and has two of the seven runners this year, with Christophe Soumillon aboard Asoof and Kevin Stott on Victory Wave.

Asoof was last seen finishing third in a Newmarket handicap in October, while Victory Wave ran sixth in a Meydan handicap a fortnight ago.

The trainer said: "Asoof is only a small filly but has thrived since arriving in Dubai and is working very well.

"Victory Wave needed that first outing and has improved a lot since. This is a step up in class against some good fillies."

Fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has yet to win the race and runs Poetic Charm, a Listed winner in France last year who disappointed at Keeneland on her latest start in October.

Poetic Charm: winning her maiden in good style at Newmarket in 2017
Poetic Charm: winning her maiden in good style at Newmarket in 2017Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Keeneland just didn't go to plan," Appleby said. "She was drawn wide and nothing really went right. The Dubai weather has really suited her and if she's in the same kind of form as she showed in France she should be thereabouts."

There may only be seven runners but it is an international affair with Charlie Fellowes saddling Mia Tesoro for Britain, Peri Lina from Turkey and Scandinavia’s Monza also in the field.

Furia Cruzada, however, looks the main danger to the Godolphin dominance. Trained by Erwan Charpy, she was a Group 1 winner in her native Chile, as well as Argentina.

She has not won in 14 starts since landing the second round of the Maktoum Challenge two years ago, but has been campaigned at a high level and has contested the past two Dubai World Cups.

Charpy said: "This looks the ideal spot for her and, having run twice already this season, hopefully she's spot on for the return to racing against her own gender."

Kenny McPeek: US trainer responsible for his first ever carnival runners
Kenny McPeek: US trainer responsible for his first ever carnival runnersCredit: Edward Whitaker

Further international interest on the card comes courtesy of US-based trainer Kenny McPeek, who saddles his first carnival runners outside World Cup night.

He is represented by Honorable Treasure in the 6f handicap (2.30) which kicks off proceedings, while Harlan Strong contests the 1m2f handicap (4.50).


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Published on 16 January 2019inGrand National festival

Last updated 12:46, 17 January 2019

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