Godolphin Supplement Al Hilalee For Guineas

Godolphin Add Al Hilalee For Guineas

Godolphin have opted to supplement the unbeaten Al Hilalee for this Saturday's seasonal-opening Classic at Newmarket; the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas.

The three-year-old son of Dubawi had two runs as a juvenile - winning on the July Course last summer on debut in a maiden, before taking Listed honours in Deauville in August for international stomper Charlie Appleby.

His win in France beat the subsequent Prix Isonomy winner Duke Of Hazzard, and the vibes must be buzzing around the yard for them to succumb to the £30,000 late entry fee for Saturday's feature race for the colts.

The decision was made on Monday after a racecourse gallop in Meydan over the weekend just gone, where Appleby spoke of his delight with his young runner in what is now a very open-looking Group One race.

(Credit: Racing Post) He said: "Al Hilalee pleased us in a racecourse gallop at Meydan on April 20 and we've decided to supplement him. He won both his starts last season and is fit and well, and we felt he deserved a crack.

"We put him away after his win at Deauville [in August] as he's a big unit and we felt he had done enough as a two-year-old. He has spent the whole winter in Dubai and arrived back in Newmarket yesterday morning.

"We've always felt he was going to be a potential Derby horse, and the 2,000 Guineas is one of the best Derby trials. He's not going to look out of place in an open renewal and I'm confident he can run a big race."

The boys in blue also have Craven Stakes fourth Royal Marine, who is trained by Saeed bin Surror, but Al Hilalee will be the only runner for Charlie Appleby, who sent out future Derby winner Masar twelve months ago to finish third.

Al Hilalee sits between prices of 12/1 and 16/1 in a market dominated by the Aidan O'Brien duo of Magna Grecia and Ten Sovereigns - the former currently just getting the edge in the betting.

Twenty four colts currently remain in contention for the opening Classic of the campaign after Monday's forfeit stage on Monday, with Phoenix Of Spain joining the likes of Coventry Stakes winner Calyx, Greenham victor Mohaather and Champion Two-Year-Old Too Darn Hot on the sidelines.

That being said, John Gosden's Calyx will make his long-awaited ten month return in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday - three days before the Newmarket pre-summer highlight.

Six furlongs seems to be his pinnacle, and he will take on six rivals in the registered Pavilion Stakes at the royal venue in a so-called lesser contest, with the Guineas perhaps a bigger ask or call.