Last year, Desert Party and Regal Ransom used impressive victories during the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the S & M al Naboodah Group UAE Derby (UAE-G2) as springboards into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Godolphin may have another horse destined to take that same path this year in unbeaten Mendip, who enters the 1,900-meter (9.44-furlong) race off back-to-back victories on Meydan's synthetic Tapeta surface, including a dominant 6 1/4-length win in the Derrinstown Stud Bahri Al Bastakiya on March 4 in his previous outing.
Godolphin Racing manager Simon Crisford is not prepared to place the three-year-old Harlan's Holiday colt on the Derby trail just yet but has not discounted that possibility, either.
"He's always been an immature horse, both physically and mentally, but he's been able to win despite that," Crisford said. "He's still very green and inexperienced, quite baby-ish, but he's shown that he is very talented. Obviously, this race should be tougher for him and give us an idea how quickly he is progressing.
"The door is open [for a run in the Derby], but there are still a lot of questions with him. He's short on experience, he's never run on dirt, and he's never had dirt kicked up in his face. Whatever happens [on Saturday], this will tell us how seriously we need to consider that possibility."
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said Mendip has shown talent similar to that of both Desert Party and Regal Ransom at this time last year.
"I've been very pleased with his progress this winter and during the Carnival," he said. "He has improved and matured mentally with each start, and he has done nothing wrong so far.
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