Mendip

Mendip must have just needed that first race in the G3 Al Maktoum Challenge Rd.1 a month ago? Because it was like the difference between daylight and dark watching Mendip win the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Rd. 2 at Meydan on Thursday. Mendip got a beautifully timed and executed ride by Kieren Fallon. This was a very deep field in this race, too. I personally think it was a deeper field than Allybar beat in this same race in 2010, and deeper than Bold Silvano beat in this same race in 2011. Finishing behind Mendip were the likes of Haatheq, Master of Hounds, Biondetti, Richard's Kid, and Dubai Prince, just to name a few. No mugs themselves, none of them. Last year, the hesitancy to run Mendip in the DWC was distance, according to Godolphin. They weren't sure if he'd get 10f or not? Which is why he ended up on turf in the G1 Duty Free over 9f, still his only career start on turf. But Kieren Fallon proved today that properly ridden, the 10f trip in the DWC won't be an issue for Mendip at all. This race was over 9-1/2f, and Fallon still had a ton of horse left under him when he asked Mendip for his run at the top of the stretch. Mendip's the best tapeta surface horse that Godolphin have by a street, and one of the best horses I've seen on just that one surface period over the past 3 Carnivals held at Meydan. IMO, he's the best shot that Godolphin have at winning the DWC in 2012. He showed today he can stay the trip, and he can beat class horses. Godolphin would be foolish not to race Mendip in the DWC in March, IMO.

I think Godolphin have their wires crossed badly concerning the races on DWC night. They're sending Mendip to the Duty Free, and Poet's Voice to the DWC. I can't say I really understand that decision at all? Poet's Voice ran an outstanding race on the turf in the Jebel Hatta. Finishing 2nd by a nose to Wigmore Hall. He has no career starts on synthetics, and struggled going 10f in his only career start at that distance in this year's Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Mendip has no career starts on turf, but has really been a beast on the tapeta surface over the past 2 carnivals. His only loss on the surface was a 3rd place finish behind Musir and Raihana in the 2010 UAE Derby. Mendip's definitely the best tapeta surface horse that Godolphin has in Dubai, and IMO should have been sent to the Dubai World Cup.

Glad to see him return in great form. I'm American, but if he gets to the World Cup it will be hard for me to cheer against him and for a US horse instead. Really hoping for big things from him. Love his sire!

Remember the name of this son of Harlan's Holiday. He's still lightly raced. But I absolutely believe that Mendip is one of, if not the most talented horse of any in the Godolphin Stable. Bar none. He broke his maiden at Kempton in September, 2009. Then he was shipped to Dubai for the 2010 Carnival. Where he demolished the field in the 4-Men Conditions Stakes field. He followed that up by routing his stablemate, 09' Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York, in the Al Bastakiya. Then he ran a big effort in UAE Derby. Finishing 3rd behind the Australian colt, Musir. Who was still unbeaten at the time of the UAE Derby. Today, on opening day of the 2011 Dubai Carnival, Mendip again trounced a field of high quality competition in the Al Maktoum Challenge Rd.1. Laying to waste the likes of South Africa's Ibongi and Mr. Brock. Two horses that always run well in Dubai. He also defeated Sea Lord, Fencing Master, Green Coast, My Indy, Win For Sure, Frozen Power, Maibait, and King of Rome among others. Mendip hadn't raced since the 2010 UAE Oaks in March, 2010. But he looked like he hadn't missed a step in winning the Al Maktoum Challenge Rd.1 at Meydan today. This colt absolutely eats up the Tapeta surface as well as any horse I've seen race at Meydan. Don't be surprised if you see Godolphin enter Mendip as one of their top horses in the 2011 Dubai World Cup. Even the big name horses like Gio Ponti, Gitano Hernando, Snow Fairy, and others that are all heading to Dubai for this year's Dubai World Cup will have their hand's full with Mendip on the Tapeta at Meydan. IMO.

Mendip, IMO, just bumped Vale Of York down one spot as being the likely best 3yr.old prospect right now in Godolphin Stables. He broke his maiden first time out in September 09' at Kempton in a EBF Maiden Race. Then, Mendip traveled to Dubai, where his first race at Meydan was the 4-Men Conditions Stakes. Mendip won that race by about 1-1/2 lenghts. Next, came the Al Bastakiya and stablemate Vale of York. Mendip destroyed Vale Of York and the whole Al Bastakiya field for that matter. Then in his third race at Meydan, Mendip ran a very solid 3rd in the UAE Derby. He's next scheduled to race in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1st. With 3 wins and 1 place in 4 lifetime starts, I'm anxious to see how Mendip performs against undefeated European 3yr.olds like St Nicholas Abbey, and Awzaan. Also, once beaten Canford Cliffs. The Guineas will certainly be a step up in competition for Mendip.