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Hunter’s light chases second renewal victory

Peter Ward

12:04 06/02/2014

Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light will bid to become the third horse to win consecutive renewals of the Group 2 1,900m middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge the Meydan’s Tapeta this evening. 

A feat achieved by Best Of The Bests (2001/2002), like Hunter’s Light trained by Saeed bin Suroor, and UK raider Jack Sullivan (2005/2006), he will have to beat 15 rivals in an ultra strong renewal.

Bin Suroor has three declared with Prince Bishop and African Story, under Silvestre De Sousa.

South African Mike De Kock relies on Zahee, a 1,400m Tapeta handicap winner only last week.

It really does appear a red hot renewal, with last year’s runner-up, Surfer, 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden and multiple South African Group 1 winner Heavy Metal likely to make their presence felt.

It is also the Group 1 Purebred Arabian equivalent and last year’s winner, Albar Lotois, faces seven rivals, including the five who chased him home last year.Last year’s runner-up Versac PY is a big danger.

Eleven have been declared for the season’s first classic, the UAE 1000 Guineas, and Ihtimal, seeking to provide Bin Suroor with his 11th victory, looks the one to beat.

A Group 2 winner in England, her last run was an excellent third in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile.

Bin Suroor said: “She is not the biggest filly but is tough and talented. Hopefully, she will go very close.”

Appleby’s Wedding Ring, winner of the 1,400m trial three weeks ago, should go close, while Christophe Soumillon chooses to ride Mensoora from three De Kock runners.

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