Guineas test beckons for Gamilati

Today's second Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting is highlighted by the trial for the first Classic of the UAE racing season — the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas — and the three concluding legs of the Meydan Masters International Jockeys' Challenge. A small but somewhat interesting field of six horses have been declared for the 1,400 metre trial contest on the all-weather track, with Godolphin's Group 2 scorer Gamilati looking an absolute standout. Trained by Mahmoud Al Zarouni, the Darley-bred daughter of Bernandini outshone several of her more fancied rivals when posting an impressive first career win on her third start in the Cherry Hinton Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket's July Festival. The race is a recognised trial for the following season's 1,000 Guineas. However, as a result of a Group race victory, she has to give weight to her five rivals while making her debut on the all-weather. Al Zarouni issued an upbeat bulletin on her chances and said: "Gamilati has been working well at home and I expect her to run well, although she will come on for her first start of the year. "She did not run as well on her final race in England [Group 2 Lowther Stakes, York, August 18, 2011] as we had hoped she would but she has had a nice break and we are looking forward to running her again. It will be her first try on [the all-weather] but we do not think that will be a problem." "She was a Group Two winner last season and has the class to run a nice race." Main rivals Among her main rivals is the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Alsindi, another filly with a Pattern race victory under her belt, who also has to concede weight to her rivals. The daughter of Acclamation bagged the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in England when previously trained by Clive Brittain. She will be ridden by Royston Ffrench who reports: "She has settled in well and seems to handle the [all-weather] in the mornings. Obviously Gamilati was very useful in England and a serious rival but we should run well." The Doug Watson-trained Ballroom Blitz, Mary Fildes, representing UK trainer Stan Moore, Muhannad Gharib's Princess Ghalya and the Erwan Charpy-trained Queen of Alba complete the field. The Meydan Masters International Jockeys Championship will conclude today with the 1400m Longines St Imier Collection Part Of The handicap, the only race of the four to be contested on the turf track. Musabah Al Muhairi looks to have a leading chance with Firestreak, who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, with Saeed Bin Surour's Les Troyens and Doug Watson's Finjaan being the main dangers. Tom Queally partners Godolphin's Les Troyens while French ace Maxime Guyon will get the leg up on Finjaan whose trainer commented: "The horse is in good form and ran really well at Abu Dhabi last time. The 1400m should be ideal and we have a good jockey so we have to be hopeful." Regular Godolphin rider Frankie Dettori will be aboard Mubarak Bin Shafya's Cartel while Dhruba Selvaratnam's hopeful, Laa Rayb has drawn Japan's Keni Ikezoe.