Dubai: Gamilati will bid to underline her budding star status by giving Godolphin an unprecedented eighth success in the UAE 1,000 Guineas, the highlight of today's Gulf News-sponsored Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at Meydan.
The American-bred daughter of Bernadini takes on six rivals in the Listed 1,600-metre contest which carries a lucrative purse of $250,000 (Dh918,298).
Trained by Emirati handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni, Gamilati created a strong impression when romping to a three-length victory in the Guineas Trial three weeks ago on her All-Weather track debut. Ridden by Frankie Dettori she raced in fourth position before asserting herself in the run to judge without even breaking a sweat.
Alsindi and Mary Fildes, who chased home Gamilati on that occasion, return to take their chances again along with the Marco Botti-trained Colourful Notion and South African Group 2 runner-up Moon Spun.
If danger lurks for Gamilati it could come in the form of stable companion Pimpernel who was a Listed winner in the UK on her most recent start in October. French jockey Mickael Barzalona takes the ride.
Good form
Assessing his chances of winning the fillies' Classic Al Zarouni said: "Gamilati won well on her latest start and she has improved for the outing. She did a good piece of work on Thursday and she looks to be in good form at the moment.
"She won the trial and this 1,600 metres should suit her well. With the advantage of that run under her belt she looks our main hope with Pimpernel not having had a run yet here or on [the all-weather].
"She is a tough filly and her form in Britain last season was very good. I think that she has a good chance of running a nice race."
Meanwhile, UK-based Italian hander Botti was making bullish noises about the chances of Colourful Notion, a filly owned by Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalfia Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President.
"Before the race, I would say that we will struggle to beat Gamilati, but the others might take time to come to hand and may not be 100 per cent ready," the Italian said. "Our filly ran in December so is race fit and sometimes that can make all of the difference."
South Africa won the Guineas last season with Mahbooba and have another noteworthy representative in the Herman Brown-trained Moon Spun. A Southern Hemisphere-bred filly Moon Spun who has a six-month age advantage over her rivals but must also shoulder a 4.5kg penalty because of that. However, her trainer Herman Brown, is not unduly worried about the penalty and said in the local media: "Obviously she will be carrying a lot more weight than the others but it has been my experience of running Southern Hemisphere horses in Dubai that they generally cope with it quite well.
"But she has been working very well in the mornings and the surface doesn't seem to trouble her. she seems to have grown into herself and we are confident that she will give a good account of herself."
Today's card also features the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint where recent Carnival winners Addictive Dream and Captain Obvious are set to clash in what appears to be a mouth-watering support race.
GN selections
First Race: 1. Red Gulch 2. Reem
Second Race: 1. Ip Man 2. Bible Black
Third Race: 1. Gamilati 2. Pimpernel
Fourth Race: 1. Iver Bridge Lad 2. Nocturnal Affair
Fifth Race: 1. Captain Obvious 2. Hitchens
Sixth Race: 1. Averroes 2. Tanfeeth
Day's Best: GAMILATI
