Godolphin Mile 2014

1.10 Meydan

Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Meydan Sobha (Group 2) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner 2,095,405 AED –

Advice: 1 pt win Soft Falling Rain (7/2 general)

Penitent: Real mudlover who used such conditions to advantage twice last year but both those wins were only in listed company and well behind Soft Falling Rain the last time they met; Hard to get enthused about his chances properly today.

Gabrial: Has plenty of talent to his name when he decides to go for his full effort as we’ve seen here, amongst other places; Early win in carnival off 106 now beginning to stack up very well but more needed before he’s taking a hand here based on latest two efforts; Others preferred.

Glory Awaits: Big priced second in Guineas last year but never really ran to that level again, fifth at Royal Ascot and then fourth in Goodwood Group 3; Needs to show more than he did when brushed aside by Soft Falling Rain lately; More needed and yet to prove that his Guineas second wasn’t a fluke.

Eastern Rules: Easy to throw out latest effort when upped in class having been extremely badly hampered  larest following handicap double (has had a very solid carnival in the main) and not impossible to see him seriously outrunning his odds if regaining early path.

Soft Falling Rain: One of the most impressive performances of the night when coming from stall 13 and deep turning for home to take this last year, and then followed that up with with good British campaign ending in disappointment on deep ground at Ascot; Try at sprinting didn’t work latest but that will have set him up for this and should take the beating in repeat bid.

Elleval: Things fell right for him over 10 furlongs two starts ago but has looked too stout a stayer for 9 furlongs around here and badly beaten in Group 1 latest on Super Saturday; Others make more appeal.

Gold City; Looked progressive over 7f, winning handicap in very good style; Chased a good solid gallop last time out in the Burj Nahaar but was pumped along early and in the end ran out of gas easily in straight; Needs much more.

Flotilla: Nailed the Breeders’ Cup Fillies Juvenile and then French Guineas but never built on that afterwards; Back to something like decent form when second in Balanchine latest although never getting past winner that day and much more needed here.

Shuruq: Classy filly with a massive love of Tapeta, her form figures on synthetics reading 1221711; Can’t fail to be impressed with way that she clawed back Variety Club for latest win in Burj Nahaar but strong pace that day very much saw things fall for her; Will still take the beating however and style of running makes draw 10 OK.

Mull of Killough: Only the two Group 3 wins on turf but form at a much higher level than that and last seen finishing fourth in Emirates Stakes; Not hard to think that he can go well if brining best form to the table and makes the shortlist here with Moore booking another positive.

Capital Attraction: Didn’t make much of an impact in this last year and while he’s been in largely good form for this carnival and latest third behind Shruq nothing to sniff at, but she came home much the better that day and so did second Variety Club

Haatheq: Second in this last year to Soft Falling Rain when very hard to catch (nearly led off the home turn) and maintained largely the same form since but would be amazed if things fell so kindly from 13 this year and poor run latest; Others preffered.

Brightline: Winner of Grade 3’s on both dirt and turf in Japan so this surface not likely to be one that cases too much trouble for him; No wins over the distance but winner over 9 furlongs so stamina likely to stand him in good stead; Fourth in Japan Cup dirt so clearly a horse of talent. 

Variety Club: 14 times winner in South Africa including Group Queen’s Plate at Clairwood last year, and smooth UAE debut got tounges wagging although when unable to dominate in C&D trial, was easily picked off by Shruq last time out; Now from stall 15, likely that things will be too strenuous for him to fully last home.

Limario: Didn’t have much to offer on UAE debut after shaping well for a long way, when stamina may have given out behind Prince Bishop; Likely that short trip will see better from him but stall 16 could wreck any plans; Needs much more here anyway.

VERDICT: A fiercely contested card with a healthy betting shape and international offering for an event now fixed in the international calendar. SOFT FALLING RAIN’S win in this last year was one of huge promise and while he hasn’t had the chance to show his best on the last couple of occasions he would still set an imposing standard if running to last year’s form and from a plum draw of stall 5 today he can retain his title ahead of Shruq, Variety Club and Mull of Killough.