A fairly weak contest for the money. Goldophin are double-handed with two lightly-raced individuals and hope to enhance their good record in this contest, having won it twice in the past five years. Khateeb has been a consistent performer throughout his career and ran well on his seasonal debut, hinting there is more to come. Dubai's Touch is much more exposed than the three previously mentioned but he is a typically tough Mark Johnston type.
Saeed Bin Suroor aims to improve on his 34% strike rate at this course and he relies on Emmrooz, the preferred mount of Frankie Dettori. This four-year-old has only had five runs so far in his career and arguably ran a personal best last time out when chasing home Group performer Bankable in a Nad Al Sheba handicap. He started his career in good style and, after winning a weak maiden on his second start, he went to Ascot to contest in the Royal Lodge Stakes, however, he struggled to land a blow in that Group 2, suggesting that he would be a threat lowered in grade. He ran a good race behind Henry Cecil's Kandahar Run in a Listed race at Newmarket but despite going off as favourite, he was outclassed by the winner, who went on to compete in the 2008 Derby. He missed his three-year-old season but still looks an interesting prospect. His last run was very encouraging as his trainer sent him to Dubai, where he was only just beaten by Bankable, who was very frustrating last season when trained by Luca Cumani. Emmrooz does have to overcome an absence of three months but he may be able to fulfil some of the promise he has shown during his short career. He will be ideally suited to this mile on fast ground.
Khateeb drops back to a mile after a short spell over 1m 2f. He ran some good races last season and after winning his maiden easily against lesser opposition he was pitched into a Listed race at Sandown, where he failed to handle the soft ground and finished fourth. Trainer Michael Jarvis had no qualms in running in the Hampton Court Stakes ove 1m 2f at Royal Ascot, where he belied his 33/1 odds to finish fourth. He relished the return to quicker ground that day and he moved nicely into contention only to be done for pace at the crucial stage. He made his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield but was badly in need of the run, his first since August. He made all that day but was found out in the final furlong, he looks sure to be spot on for today. He is entered for the Royal Hunt Cup and he would need to run well here to guarantee a place in the line-up. He looks likely to appreciate the drop back in trip and under Richard Hills, he could continue his stable's recent run of good form.
Dubai's Touch is a thoroughly-exposed five-year-old but has performed with much credit during his 26-race career. Today is his first run for eight months and he is entitled to need the outing. He does go well fresh, having won first time out before. He ran some big races last season, finishing in the frame in two Listed races at the start of the season before going to well in the Totesport Mile at Goodwood. He finished a way behind top-class Raven's Pass in the Celebration Mile before going on to run as well as could be expected in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. He has a host of entries to his name and it would be no surprise to see him begin this season with a bang. If Dettori does not make the running on Emmrooz, Greg Fairley may decide to dictate matters on this tough horse.
Royal God looks to be the Goldophin second-string and is making his first start for his new stable. Trained in France last year, he looks best suited to a mile even though he would prefer some give in the ground looking back on his old form. This race is likely to give his trainer a view to how good he could be so he is an unknown quantity in truth. Docofthebay has been on the go since January and has not won for two years. He ran well on his only start at the course before and his trainer Jamie Osborne has been in good form of late.
Selections: 1st - Emmrooz, 2nd - Khateeb, 3rd - Dubai's Touch.
Result: 1st - Khateeb, 11/4, 2nd - Emmrooz, 6/5 fav, 3rd - Docofthebay, 10/1.
Khateeb was given a canny front-running ride by Richard Hills and held off the challenge of Emmrooz to score by a length and half. With stamina assured, Hills quickly took his mount to the front and he never saw another rival. He travelled nicely and soon had his opposition in trouble in behind with two furlongs to go, and when asked to quicken he did so readily. He has obviously come on massively for his seasonal debut and this will set him up nicely for a crack at the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, for which he was cut to 16/1 after this clear-cut success. Emmrooz was well backed to give Saeed Bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori yet another winner at Nottingham but he could not contain the winner. He was settled nicely in mid-division and moved steadily up to leader, but when he Dettori asked for maximum effort, he could not find enough to pass Khateeb, even though he finished three lengths clear of third. He looked a willing partner and will come on for this run, he would be one to watch next time out. Docofthebay ran a good race considering he missed the break and was the first under pressure. He ran a blinder last season to finish second in the Royal Hunt Cup and that will be his target again this season. He would have to build on this to feature there but he is going the right way. Dubai's Touch weakened very tamely after being up with the pace for most of the race. This was his first run for eight months and fitness began to tell three furlongs from home, where he dropped steadily back through the field. He is a tough sort and wherever he appears for his next race, he will be a different proposition.
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