Racing Post.....
Ramonti set to miss World Cup in favour of Duty Free
by Jason Ford
.
RAMONTI looks set to bypass the Dubai World Cup and instead have a crack at the Dubai Duty Free – with Champion Stakes winner Literato stepping into the breach for Godolphin in the world's richest race.
Stressing that plans are likely to change over the course of the Dubai carnival, which starts on Thursday at Nad Al Sheba, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford outlined possible targets on World Cup night for Sheikh Mohammed's ultra-powerful squad.
Ramonti was Godolphin's standard-bearer in 2007 with four Group 1 wins and after the six-year-old stepped up to 1m2f to win the Hong Kong Cup in December, a switch to the sand for the $6 million World Cup on March 29 was mooted. However, that appears no longer the first-choice option.
“Ramonti is entered in the Dubai World Cup, Dubai Duty Free and Godolphin Mile,” said Crisford. “We will wait and see how he trains over the winter before a decision is made, but it seems likely that the Duty Free is the more likely race for him. He has come out of his Hong Kong race well and is in light training at Al Quoz right now.”
Literato, who joined Godolphin after winning the Champion Stakes from Dubai-bound Eagle Mountain, may now be aimed at the World Cup.
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “Depending on how he settles in and trains, we could consider the Electrocutionist route and aim for the World Cup via the third round of the Maktoum Challenge. But we have a long time to think about it.”
Other likely Godolphin stars include Arc third Sagara, for whom the Sheema Classic is a likely target, and the former US-trained Etched, who will be aimed at the UAE Derby.
Uruguayan Derby winner Cafe Silver, another new Godolphin inmate, could also be
aimed at the latter race.
Latency, a seven time Group 1 winner in South America, will represent Argentina in the World Cup.
Owner Nicolas Fernandez Aramburu said: “It is a great adventure to take him to Dubai, and he will be accompanied by all of our team to ensure he is in the best of form.”
A likely absentee from Dubai is the Cox Plate winner El Segundo, who could be sidelined for a year after sustaining an injury.
Trainer Colin Little, who fears that Australia's top weight-for-age performer may have injured a tendon, is awaiting the results of a scan. El Segundo was being primed for a crack at the Dubai Duty Free.
|