In-form Buick opts for Mythical Magic from strong Godolphin entry in Zabeel Mile

Godolphin have dominated the first seven weeks of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival and are well represented throughout Thursday’s eighth meeting at Meydan, notably with four runners in the feature Group 2 Zabeel Mile.

It looks a fascinating contest on turf which has also attracted the winners of the last two renewals.

Godolphin have 19 carnival winners already and Charlie Appleby will saddle three in the Zabeel Mile.

William Buick, who, after missing the first month of the carnival, has ridden seven winners, one second, two thirds and a fourth from 11 rides, has opted to ride Mythical Magic from the Appleby trio.

A closing second in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort on his sole start this season, the four-year-old has had only eight starts, winning the first two in the summer of 2017.

Appleby also introduces new recruit Wootton, fourth in last year’s French 2,000 Guineas and third in the St James’s Palace Stakes for Henri-Alex Pantall.

Mythical Magic: pick of in-form William Buick from three Godolphin entries in the Zabeel MileCredit: Edward Whitaker

He is the mount of James Doyle, while Colm O’Donoghue rides the trainer’s third runner, First Contact.

Appleby, who has 13 of Godolphin's carnival haul, said: “We were delighted with Mythical Magic in the Al Fahidi Fort and we're pretty sure the extra furlong here is what he needs.

“Wootton has been training very well and has very good form in Europe, while we hope First Contact will settle better this week because he was too keen over a furlong-longer trip in the AlRashidiya a month ago.”

Full Meydan card

Appleby's Godolphin colleague Saeed Bin Suroor saddles Top Score, the mount of Christophe Soumillon, and said: “Six furlongs was too short for him last time and this trip should suit him much better.”

Ahmad Bin Harmash saddles Championship who, having won this race in 2017, missed Super Saturday and Dubai World Cup night.

He ran just three times last season, the best effort being his second in this race when denied by Janoobi.

Trained by Mike de Kock for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Janoobi, as is the case with Championship, has not won since landing this race and was more than five lengths behind that rival when both were well beaten in the Al Fahidi Fort.

After four victories, De Kock is the most successful trainer in the race’s history and also saddles Marinaresco, ninth in the Al Fahidi Fort on his first start for the trainer. A Group 1 winner for his previous trainer, he should strip a lot fitter this time.

Mike de Kock: the South African trainer, who has the best record in the Zabeel Mile with four victories, is double-handed in Thursday's raceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Winx may not be at Meydan but her trainer Chris Waller is, saddling Comin’ Through, his only previous runner in Dubai, when seventh in the Al Fahidi Fort.

Opposing his former Godolphin employers, Simon Crisford relies on Century Dream, owned by Abdulla Belhabb and on his most recent outing was third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

The Group 3 UAE Oaks is essentially a repeat of the UAE 1,000 Guineas from three weeks ago.

Silva and Oisin Murphy were easy winners of the first fillies’ Classic and reoppose no fewer than ten of their victims, the exception being Dream With You, a maiden after seven starts from France.

The other turf feature, Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, has attracted eight declarations, with six set to represent Godolphin, including the former David Menuisier-trained Vintager, who has his first run for Appleby.

With Buick on First Nation, and Soumillon riding Racing History, jockey bookings suggest that pair are the best chances for Appleby and Bin Suroor respectively.

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