3 minute read
Charlie Appleby's promising filly spearheads a powerful Godolphin string when she takes on eleven rivals over a mile in Friday's Cape Verdi at Meydan.
After a disappointing last place in last year's Oaks, With The Moonlight spent the remainder of season campaigned in America, where she met with better form and fortune, winning a Grade Three and finishing second at the highest level.
On Friday, the four-year-old will line up alongside stablemate Wild Beauty, whom Appleby also fancies to run well.
"With The Moonlight is clear on official ratings and, while the trip will be on the sharper side, I feel that the style of racing at Meydan will suit her," Appleby told the Godolphin website.
"Wild Beauty has definitely come on for her first start of the year and will hopefully be very competitive. I feel we have two fillies that should be bang there in the finish."
Saeed Bin Suroor also holds strong claims with his two runners, Soft Whisper and White Moonlight, first and second in a conditions race last month.
"Soft Whisper is a tough filly, who always tries in her races, and came out of her win in the Ipi Tombe Stakes in good form. She has been going well at home and I'm looking for another success from her," said Bin Suroor.
"White Moonlight is a big, strong filly, who is improving all the time. Her latest piece of work went well and the step back up in trip will suit. We are hopeful of another good effort."
Simon and Ed Crisford's Algiers will aim to back up a hugely-impressive Meydan debut in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge when he runs in Round Two, where he meets Salute The Soldier.
Godolphin also dominate in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes through Appleby's Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, plus Bin Suroor's Dubai Future and Desert Fire.
"Valiant Prince has come out of the Al Rashidiya well. He has to carry a penalty for that win but has a nice draw in stall two and should be very competitive based on what he achieved last time out," said Appleby.
"I feel Ottoman Fleet has come forward since the Al Rashidiya, when he travelled well before getting a bit tired in the last 100 yards. He is better at the weights with Valiant Prince this time, which should put him bang there."
Saeed bin Suroor said: "Dubai Future ran well to finish second in the Al Rashidiya and this course and distance suits him. This is another tough race but he heads into it in good form.
"Desert Fire won nicely over this trip in last season's Al Rashidiya but was disappointing in the Zabeel Mile. He came out of that race in good condition and I am hoping for a better performance this time.
