by Mike Curry
Multiple Grade 1 winner Vineyard Haven, one of the early favorites for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), will make his much-anticipated season debut today with a classic victory on the line.
The Florida-bred gray or roan Lido Palace (Chi) colt will break from post position eight in the United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G1), a 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race for three-year-olds.
Because of the age advantage, Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds will carry 131 pounds compared with 121 for Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds.
Vineyard Haven will make his first start since winning the Champagne Stakes (G1) by 5 3/4 lengths on October 4 at Belmont Park. He subsequently was purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Godolphin Racing and was transferred to Dubai.
“[Vineyard Haven] will improve for his first race of the year,” Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said last week. “He has been pretty laid back in his training but is ready to go to the races and whatever happens, he will be much sharper next time.”
Ted Durcan will ride Vineyard Haven for the first time in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas.
Godolphin’s first-call rider Frankie Dettori will ride Vineyard Haven’s stablemate Desert Party, winner of last year’s Sanford Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. The Street Cry (Ire) colt finished sixth in the Champagne.
Desert Party, a $2.1-million purchase at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training, held off Regal Ransom by a half-length in his season debut on January 22 at Nad al Sheba in a 1,400-meter (6.96-furlong) allowance race. Desert Party drew post three for the Two Thousand Guineas.
Daragh O'Donohoe will ride Regal Ransom, who will break from post six in the Guineas.
"We were very pleased with Desert Party and Regal Ransom last time and both came out of the race well,” Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “We have to be hopeful with our three runners."
Trainer Mike de Kock entered Argentine Group 1-placed winner Blues and Rock and South African champion Rocks Off in the Two Thousand Guineas. Blues and Rock and Rocks Off finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the January 22 allowance race won by Desert Party.
Undefeated Regionalista will make his first start for trainer Pascal Bary in the Two Thousand Guineas.
Mike Curry is editor of Thoroughbred Times TODAY