Sky Hunter, True Story & Songcraft On Gold Target

Time/Date - 18.55hrs local time/Saturday, March 7, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Meydan/UAE
Surface/Distance - Turf/12f

Sky Hunter makes his first appearance of 2015 in the Group Two Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, March 7, with True Story and Songcaft also lining for Godolphin in the 12-furlong turf contest.

Five-year-old Sky Hunter (Saeed bin Suroor/James Doyle) enjoyed a progressive campaign in the UK last year that culminated with a decisive nine-length success in the Group Three Worthington's Burlison Inns Stakes over a mile and a half at Newbury in October.

He raced in France during the 2013 season, winning on three of his fours starts and coming home third in the Group One Prix du Jockey Club over 10 and a half furlongs at Chantilly.

He was also successful on his only outing on debut in 2012.

True Story (Saeed bin Suroor/William Buick) has his third start of the year at Meydan after two appearances over nine furlongs, most recently when taking second, beaten two lengths by Vercingetorix, in the Group Two Al Rashidiya Sponsored By Emirates Global Aluminium on January 29.

The four-year-old was an easy winner of the Listed Singspiel Stakes Presented by Longines Conquest Classic Gents and stayed on to finish fifth in the Group One Coral-Eclipse over a mile and a quarter at Sandown Park, UK, in July.

He has raced over 12 furlongs once before, when seventh in the Group One Investec Derby at Epsom Downs last year.

Seven-year-old Songcraft (Saeed bin Suroor/Dane O'Neill) was beaten a head by stable companion Excellent Result in the 2014 renewal of the Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo and stayed on strongly to capture a handicap over the same course and distance on February 12.

Saeed bin Suroor said: "Sky Hunter was an easy winner at Newbury last year on soft ground but he has won on all types of going in the past, so a faster surface should be no problem.

"He has been working nicely and this distance suits him well. I am hopeful of a good run.

"True Story won on his first start of the year and was second to a good horse on his latest appearance.

"He is in good form and I think that he will stay a mile and a half. He was seventh over the distance in the Epsom Derby last year but he has been gelded since and settles better in his races now.

"Songcraft ran well in this race last year and won well on his first start of the season. He is in good form and deserves to take a step back up in class."

Sky Hunter, True Story and Songcraft face eight others including Canadian Group One victor Sheikhzayedroad, Argentinian Group One winner Cooptado and Meydan Listed runner-up Umgiyo.

Godolphin has been successful in the Dubai City Of Gold with Happy Valentine (1998), Sibling Rival (1999), High-Rise (2000), Give The Slip (2001), Narrative (2002), Highest (2003), Campanologist (2010), Monterosso (2011) and Excellent Result (2014).