Dirt Mile Division

MIDSHIPMAN
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor

Godolphin’s stateside operation has had a stellar year so far in 2009 and they could be loaded in this division with Girolamo, Pyro and Regal Ransom also under consideration for the “Boys in Blue.” However, this is the horse that excited me the most. He won three of his four juvenile runs last year, culminating in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita over eight and a half furlongs. He was just about the only front end winner last year, but that was most likely due to the relatively gentle early pace; the first half mile was run in a time was over a second slower than the juvenile fillies went. However, he did show commendable courage to dig in late to hold off Square Eddie. That was the last seen of him until he reappeared in a third level allowance at Saratoga in August. He wasn’t particularly well away there but was soon stalking a hot pace, before taking over and drawing off in the final furlong for to win by three lengths, despite drifting in the lane. He faces a real test if he lines up for this event, but he clearly has the class, and we know he handles the surface and that gives him an edge on many who will turn up.