Godolphin starting to formulate their plans...
CLASSIC STRING EXCITE GODOLPHIN
By PA Sport Staff
Godolphin look set to mount a strong challenge on the Classics this season, with Ibn Khaldun and Laureldean Gale among their brighter hopes.
Racing manager Simon Crisford confirmed the former, winner of the Racing Post Trophy in October, will be targeted at the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3.
Speaking at Godolphin's open day at Al Quoz stables in Dubai, Crisford said: "A homebred by Dubai Destination, he is a fantastic colt. He has had an excellent winter and is working very well.
"He is 60% fit at the moment and we have very strong hopes for him in the 2000 Guineas."
The Godolphin operation purchased Fast Company, formerly with Brian Meehan, after he finished a close second to the unbeaten New Approach in the Dewhurst.
While the team retain every faith in the son of Danehill Dancer, Crisford says he has not been setting the world alight at home.
"He has not been showing us a great deal this winter so far in his faster paces, but we know he is a good horse and are sure he will be much better when he gets to the racetrack," he said.
Fourth in the Dewhurst was Rio De La Plata, who, conversely, has been showing all the right signs.
"He has had a fantastic winter. He is moving well and training extremely well. We are very happy with him," Crisford continued.
"We may well run him in the French 2000 Guineas if we choose not to run him in the English 2000 Guineas."
McCartney was only seventh in the Dewhurst for Mark Johnston and is to be stepped up in trip at three.
"He has never had a good action throughout the winter but he is a very promising colt and goes for the Dante Stakes at York (May 15)," Crisford added on
www.godolphin.com.
Among the fillies, Crisford has high hopes for Laureldean Gale, who has the Stan James 1000 Guineas as her primary objective.
"She was a very impressive winner of a maiden at Newmarket and later ran disappointingly in the Prix Marcel Boussac in France, but she got very excited in the pre-parade ring at Longchamp before that race," he said.
"She is going for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket (May 4).
"She has had a very good winter and is working very well indeed. We hope we can see her back to her very best."
Screen Star outclassed her rivals by 11 lengths and more on her debut and is another expected to blossom at three.
"She is a homebred daughter of Tobougg and she won very, very impressively at Redcar," Crisford added.
"Unfortunately, she had an injury after that race and could not go for the May Hill at Doncaster.
"We want to run her over a mile in a York Listed race towards the end of May and we are hoping that maybe she will be good enough to represent the stable at Royal Ascot."
