Godolphin primed for Queensland success with Souchez, Ghisoni and Mogador

HAVING opened their 2016 carnival account with Archives, the Godolphin stable is set to make an even bigger impact with their two Queensland trump cards.

Souchez is the ruling favourite for the J.J. Atkins.

HAVING opened their 2016 carnival account with Archives last week, the powerful Godolphin stable is set to make an even bigger impact with their two Queensland trump cards.

Souchez is the ruling favourite for the J.J. Atkins, while Ghisoni is here for the Tatts Tiara and possibly Stradbroke.

The thus far under-achieving Mogador is also engaged, trying for a maiden stakes win in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes.

Mogador was thought of so highly early on, that he started $1.40 favourite at his first start in a race that was won by his stablemate Exosphere.

“He probably hasn’t come up to the expectations we had,” Godolphin’s Australian Manager Henry Plumptre said. “At one stage last spring, John (O’Shea) put no more than a length between him and Exosphere. He has always shown us to be well above average on the training track, but for one reason or another hasn’t lived up to those expectations.

“Hopefully he can get back in the winning groove here, because it’s a lovely race for him and he’s well suited by the weights.”

Souchez was fully qualified for the Golden Slipper but was earmarked for Queensland because he was seen as not as seasoned as the other horses Godolphin ran in the Slipper.

“John decided to keep him for Queensland. We like him a lot. He’s still very raw and you can see that when you look at him in the yard,” Plumptre said.

Mogador was beaten by stablemate Exosphere at the Skyline Stakes.

“His mum placed in a Tasmanian Oaks. I’m not sure where the stamina came from, because it’s a speed family. He’s a grandson of Regimental Gal, who won a Lightning Stakes at Flemington.”

Ghisoni makes her eagerly awaited Brisbane debut tomorrow after a luckless last start fifth in the Arrowfield, where she should have beaten Japonisme and Counterattack.

Plumptre said the stable is very mindful of looking after her future, but if a Stradbroke opportunity presented itself, it wold be considered carefully.

“John and I are very bullish on her prospects for next year, so we don’t want to cut her in half this season,” he said.

“She had a slight setback in Sydney and that’s why we reverted to the Arrowfield. After that we had the option of giving her a spell and bringing her back for the early part of the spring or push on to Brisbane and then get her ready for the back end of the spring.

“We think she can be a Myer horse in the spring and because she had done so well (in the stable) we decided to push on.

Ghisoni is here for the Tatts Tiara and possibly Stradbroke.

“Brisbane has a lovely sequence of races for fillies and mares through to the Group 1 Tiara, using the Glenlogan and then Dane Ripper.

“Now obviously we will keep our eye on the Stradbroke but she needs to make the field first. If that happens, then we will sit down and discuss it with the boss (Sheikh Mohammed) and decide if we run or not.”

Plumptre tipped Eschielle to improve in the Grand Prix Stakes, while Unbreakable is also on trial for the Queensland Derby after the jockey “got eager” a long way from home last time.

With Exosphere since retired to stud (where he is fully booked at a fee of $25,000), Godolphin have aimed Holler at this year’s Royal Ascot carnival and trainer John O’Shea will supervise his exhibition gallop at Randwick tomorrow ahead of him departing for the UK.

Plumptre said the 1200m Golden Jubilee Stakes looks the more likely option for Holler at Ascot.

“Our form analysts tell us the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) will be the easier option, but we feel he’s a better horse when he can get into a better rhythm over a slightly longer trip,” he said.

Originally published as Godolphin primed for Queensland success with Souchez, Ghisoni and Mogador