Outstrip Leads Al Maktoum Godolphin Challenge

Time/Date - 21.40hrs local time/Thursday, January 8, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Meydan/UAE
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m

Outstrip and Emirates Flyer race on dirt for the first time in the Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge Round One Presented By Longines Conquest Classic Moon Phase at Meydan, UAE, on Thursday, January 8.

Four-year-old Outstrip (Charlie Appleby/Adam Kirby) returns over the same trip following four appearances over a mile on turf in the UK last year, most recently when eighth in the Group Two Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket on September 26.

The Exceed And Excel colt was beaten three lengths in total to finish last of four in the Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July and was third behind Classic scorers Kingman and Night Of Thunder in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

He produced a dirty scope after failing to run to form in the Group One QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, and stormed to a thrilling victory in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, also over a mile, at Santa Anita, USA, in November, 2013.

Emirates Flyer (Saeed bin Suroor/James Doyle) stayed on to finish second on his only UK appearance last year in an extended mile Tapeta conditions race at Wolverhampton on October 9.

The four-year-old colt ran several excellent races on Tapeta at the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival, including a fine third in the Group Two UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group over nine and a half furlongs on March 29.

He was runner-up over the same distance in the Listed Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Emirates Skywards and filled the same position behind Long John in the mile Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors.

Emirates Flyer won the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Sponsored By Dubai Duty Free And Jumeirah Creekside Hotel at the start of 2014 and was runner-up to Kingman in the Group Three Betfred Mobile Solario Stakes over seven furlongs on turf at Sandown Park, UK, in August, 2013.

Charlie Appleby said: "I have been delighted with Outstrip's preparation and all the signs are good with respect to running him on dirt. His work on the surface has been very pleasing although racing on it will be something of a learning curve.

"A turning track suits him well and Adam Kirby, who is riding because William Buick is banned, knows the horse well.

"We are hopeful that he will handle conditions and it will open up a few more options if he does run well this week."

Saeed bin Suroor commented: "This is a very tough race and Emirates Flyer is coming up against some nice horses.

"He always tries in his races and ran well on Tapeta at the Dubai World Cup Carnival last year.

"We wanted to give him a chance in a big race like this to see how he gets on."

Outstrip and Emirates Flyer oppose 13 others including Group One Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates Airline third Surfer, multiple Meydan winner Capital Attraction, dual Listed scorer Ocean Tempest and Group One Lockinge Stakes fifth Empire Storm.

Godolphin has won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One nine times thanks to Halling (1995), Tamayaz (1996), Kammtarra (1997), Spindrift (1999), Siege (2000), China Visit (2001), My Indy (2009), Mendip (2011) and Shuruq (2014).