Royal Ascot winner Wild Tiger makes a belated return to action for Saeed bin Suroor at
on Friday.
Not seen since landing the Royal Hunt Cup, the six-year-old, who has only had six runs in his life, comes back in a handicap over seven furlongs.
Bin Suroor is targeting Bahrain with the gelding, and he may step up to 10 furlongs at some stage.
He will be ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle for the first time.
“He’s had an easy time, we gave him some time off as he’d been busy. We were looking at the Bahrain International, but he had a little setback,” said the Godolphin trainer.
“He’s been back in work for some time and he’s working well.
“We’re starting him off over seven furlongs and he’s a miler really, he might even go over 10 furlongs at some stage as he always finishes well.
“More than likely there’s a race in Bahrain for him, or we could even take him to Qatar, one of those two I think.
“He’s a straightforward horse so I don’t think it will be a problem that Dylan rides him for the first time.”
In the same race is Hafit, once trained by Charlie Appleby to be third in the Queen’s Vase in 2022 but not seen since.
Appleby fields odds-on favourite Romantic Style in the Cape Verdi, who finished fourth in the French 1000 Guineas but disappointed in the Prix Jean Prat.
“We are very pleased with Romantic Style heading into her seasonal return and her preparation has gone well. This is a starting point ahead of a potential European campaign and, if she runs to the level she showed in the French Guineas, it will make her the one to beat. Hopefully, this can set her up for a good year,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.
Simon and Ed Crisford take her on with Choisya, a Listed winner at Haydock in August.
“She’s in super form and it’s a small but quality field, Charlie has got a good filly in there,” said Ed Crisford.
“On her best form she will be very competitive and she’s done really well since she’s been in Dubai actually. Hopefully the track will suit her nicely and I’m sure she can run a good race.”