Monterosso to lead Godolphin's charge at Epsom in June

The Dubai World Cup winner will be among the seven horses Godolphin will send to contest the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Stakes at Epsom in June.

Mickael Barzalona, left, will likely be aboard Monterosso again when the Dubai World Cup winner takes to Epsom for the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Stakes in June.

Twelve horses that ran at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday feature among the entries for the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Stakes at Epsom Racecourse in England on June 2.

Godolphin have entered seven horses in the mile-and-a-half contest with Monterosso, the Dubai World Cup winner, spearheading Mahmoud Al Zarooni's challenge.

Al Zarooni also has Opinion Poll, the Dubai Gold Cup winner, in the race alongside stablemates Sadeek's Song and Be Fabulous.

Fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor could line up Cavalryman, Songcraft and Prince Bishop, all of whom finished down the field on Saturday, in his bid to follow up his wins in the race with Daylami (1999) and Mutafaweq (2001).

Aidan O'Brien could run last year's winner St Nicholas Abbey, who finished second to Cirrus Des Aigles in Dubai. The Irish trainer may also feature Treasure Beach and Fitri Hay's Fame And Glory among a total entry of nine.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Khalid Abdullah has Sea Moon and World Domination in the race, and Lord Grimthorpe, his racing manager, suggested yesterday Sea Moon was the No 1 challenger.

"Obviously, in the case of Sea Moon, he is a proven Group 1 level horse so, although he hasn't run yet this year, you would like to think a race like that would be very much on his radar," he said. "World Domination hasn't run since Royal Ascot last year. He was always highly-rated, but obviously he has got to jump up to prove he's that level before he goes to Epsom.

"He has done very well over the winter. He was a very immature horse last year, but he has grown into a really nice-looking horse now and he showed glimpses of good ability last year. His tendency to pull in his races could have been down to a number of things but he is certainly more relaxed now.

"The plan is for him to run in the Sir Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown [April 28], when he will have to show himself as potentially Group 1 calibre but I don't think he would be rushed."

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