Dubawi Heads 22 In UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas

Godolphin´s Dubawi heads the 22 five-day confirmations for the first classic of the season, the #320,000 UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, run up the famous Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Saturday, April 30.

The son of Dubai Millennium has yet to race this year, although he looked impressive in a racecourse gallop at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai on April 11. He was unbeaten in three races last year, including the Group Three Weatherbys Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh.

Godolphin is seeking its third UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas success following Mark Of Esteem (1996) and Islands Sand (1999). The Maktoum family´s racing entity could also be represented by Tasdeed, victorious on his sole start at Doncaster last season, and Satchem, a Group Three winner at Kempton in 2005. They were second and third behind Dubawi in the Nad Al Sheba racecourse gallop.

Aidan O´Brien is also after a third win in the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas and has two to choose from in Footstepsinthesand, winner of both his starts last season, and Oratorio, victorious in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere last season before finishing runner-up Shamardal in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Sir Michael Stoute has won five UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, more than any other current trainer, and his representative this year is Rob Roy. The Lear Fan colt won his only start last season at Newmarket before finishing second to Jim Bolger´s Democratic Deficit in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 14.

The duo are set to take each other on again at Newmarket on Saturday, along with the next five horses home from the bet365 Craven Stakes - Kandidate, Iceman, Mister Genepi, Forward Move and Montgomery´s Arch. Less than three lengths covered the first seven home in the Craven.

Forward Move is owned by the Queen, owner of the 1958 victor Pall Mall, and will be aiming to become the first Royal Classic winner since Dunfermline took the 1977 St Leger.

Other interesting contenders include last season´s Somerville Tattersall Stakes winner Diktatorial, bidding to become the first winner owned by a syndicate for Tweenhills Thurloe Racing, last season´s Gimcrack Stakes hero Tony James, Party Boss, winner of his last six starts on the all-weather, and Tucker, twice a winner at Newmarket and aiming to give the in-form David Elsworth his first British classic winner.