Newmarket, England: Zabeel Racing International’s tough and battle-hardened Surfer appears likely to revert to a shorter trip, after his fourth place finish in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Two (G2) on February 5, and take aim at the Godolphin Mile (G1) on World Cup night.
He can run 2000 metres pretty efficiently, no doubt about that but Surfer is a good step sharper over 1600 and he would be one of the best local hopes in the ‘Godolphin’. Bred by Darley, Surfer has had an excellent career and he is still going strong at the age of six. He gained his fifth win from 21 runs when winning the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One (G2) in January.
Surfer had already had a run at Meydan before the Carnival started, winning the Dubai Creek Mile (LR) in December, and he looked really well in himself in the preliminaries to the first round of the Al Maktoum Series. He raced prominently with great zest throughout, took command early in the straight and ran out quite a comfortable winner, 2 ¼ lengths in front of the French import Frankyfourfingers, with Haatheq third. Surfer was pricking his ears passing the winning post and had something to spare.
Logically, he was the most fancied as these three met again in the second round, run over 1900 metres a month later.
The field was lot deeper though, with last year’s Dubai World Cup (G1) winner African Story and his stable companion Prince Bishop at the forefront.
Prince Bishop, who had beaten Surfer by two lengths into third place in last year’s Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three (G1), did best of the two favourites – though was beaten a head. Surprisingly by Frankyfourfingers, who led from gate to wire under a fine Mickael Barzalona ride.
Surfer tracked him around the new dirt course he clearly enjoys but tired a bit in the home straight and had to settle for fourth, 1 ½ lengths behind Frankyfourfingers. Haatheq was one place behind Surfer, confirming that the first round was a decent race indeed.
Surfer began his career with Godolphin in England as a juvenile, when he failed to win in five attempts.
Interestingly, his last start that season was a fifth over 1800 metres at Newmarket, behind a talented young colt named Main Sequence. Does the name ring a bell? Yes, that’s right, Main Sequence won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and is a leading contender for the Sheema Classic (G1).
The two runners went separate ways after the Newmarket race. Main Sequence via a runner-up effort in the Epsom Derby (G1) to a highly successful career in the USA, while Surfer moved to Dubai – and also started winning nice races.
All of his five wins have come at Meydan, when racing on the old Tapeta and on the new dirt track. Four wins have been gained over 1600 metres, and the fifth over 1400 metres. Again, he does stay further, but Surfer is a typical miler.
— The author is the editor of globeform.co.uk a Newmarket-based independent racing and handicapping publication
