Alicia Wincze is the turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She started riding at age 8 and was a four-year member of the Pace University equestrian team.
Midshipman returns in Meydan opener
Posted by Alicia Wincze on January 27, 2010
The opening of Dubai’s splashy new Meydan Racecourse tomorrow will be nothing short of a spectacular affair. Thus, it’s only fitting that one of Sheikh Mohammed’s stable stars would be on hand to usher in his remarkable state-of-the-art racing complex.
Midshipman, the champion 2-year-old male of 2008, will make his four-year-old debut on the opening night of the Dubai Racing Carnival when he lines up in the Group III, one mile Al Maktoum Challenge Round One.
Midshipman was expected to be a top candidate for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing on the Kentucky Derby trail last season but had to miss the entire Triple Crown season due to a soft tissue injury in his left front leg that occurred in March. The son of Unbridled’s Song returned last September, winning a six furlong allowance race at Belmont before running a strong third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita Park in November.
Midshipman had captured the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile also at Santa Anita.
“Midshipman is in good form and he looks a much better horse in terms on condition compared to last season - physically he appears to be a different horse,” said Saeed bin Suroor, trainer for Godolphin. “He has some very good form on Pro Ride and Polytrack in America and the Tapeta (at Meydan) surface is very similar. He has been working well but I think he will improve on whatever he does on Thursday.”
