Godolphin to get a good look at Ihtimal’s form at Newmarket

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // The true abilities of Godolphin's Ihtimal will be brought more into focus on Wednesday after a trio of fillies turn out at the headquarters of British racing for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Appleby runs Majeyda and Folk Melody in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs, a traditional trial for the English 1,000 Guineas that last produced the winner of the British fillies’ Classic in 2006.

He also runs Wedding Ring in the Millions Sprint for three-year-olds over six furlongs.

Both Majeyda and Wedding Ring have found Saeed Bin Suroor’s Ihtimal far too good; Majeyda at Doncaster last season, and Wedding Ring both at Newmarket in August and in the UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse in February.

Ihtimal remains the UAE’s second-best chance of success in the English 1,000 Guineas behind Sheikh Rashid Bin Dalmook’s Rizeena.

Appleby believes all three fillies have good chances of maintaining his strong start to the British season, which has resulted in two wins from just seven runners this month.

Appleby’s confidence even extended to the possibility of overturning Ihtimal and Rizeena back here on the first Sunday of next month – a broadside that would signal Appleby means business ahead of his first full season since taking over at Moulton Paddocks stables from Mahmood Al Zarooni last year.

“The weather in Newmarket has been kind to us and the fillies have wintered well and are working nicely,” Appleby said.

“I would not be so bold as to suggest that these fillies will win the 1,000 Guineas. But there is no doubt that a Group 1 Classic winner would be high on anyone’s wish list and if I could collect a Classic in the first month of the season, it would be great for Sheikh Mohammed, great for Godolphin and fantastic for myself personally.”

Also engaged for the UAE among the 13 runners in the Millions Sprint is Sheikh Juma bin Dalmook’s Bon Voyage, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Crowdmania, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa’s Naadirr and Saeed Al Tayer’s Hatha Hooh.

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