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Cavalryman to skip King George

NEWBURY - Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said the 33/1 long shot Cavalryman will be withdrawn from Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“He will not take part in the race,” the former champion trainer told Khaleej Times at the Newbury Racecourse on Friday.

After celebrating his victory of the Godolphin juvenile Alaasifh in the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on Friday, Suroor rushed to the airport to catch the flight to Hamburg where Campanologist bids for an elusive first Group-1 success in the Deutschland Preis-Grosser Hansa Preis.

“We have sent him there to increase his chances in a Group-1 victory,” he said. But, all eyes will be on Hibaayeb as the 7/4 hot favourite Singspiel filly eyes the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh Racecourse on Sunday.

“She’s a big hope to strike again following her impressive performance in the Group-2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month under Frankie Dettori. Hibaayeb was a Group-1 winner as a juvenile when landed the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot last season, but her chances in the Irish Oaks depends mainly on the surface on the race day,” he said.

Speaking about the effort of the UAE to promote the Arabian horse in Europe, the experienced trainer said he’s positive about the future of the move.

“The progress which has been achieved so far is promising. Now the Arabian races are part of the European calendar and the Jockey Club is responding positively to the requests of the promoters,” he added. Regarding his personal experience with the Arabian horse, Suroor said it’s very difficult to train. “The Arabian horse is up tide and inconsistent. And for this reason we need to do some work to improve the breeding of the Arabians. It’s a difficult job, and probably more expensive, but the results are ensured,” he said.

Born in Dubai on November 16, 1968, he was brought up with horses.

Horses occupied most of his leisure time. He was an officer of the police force in the emirate but started training a few horses and then came to the attention of Godolphin’s founder, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who sent him 30 horses in 1992.